Fresh incidents of arson and violence have erupted in West Bengal’s Hoogly during a Ram Navami Shobhayatra organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Rishra on Sunday evening. BJP National Vice President Dilip Ghosh was among those participating in the procession.
The disturbance broke out from the procession in Sandhya Bazar area of Rishra Maitri area. Police fired teargas shells to control the situation.
Following the outbreak of violence, heavy stone-pelting took place in the area, prompting the police to intervene in order to restore law and order.
Amit Malviya, Co incharge of West Bengal, took to Twitter to condemn the incident, claiming that the situation was extremely tense and the West Bengal Police was a mute spectator while Muslim mobs assaulted the procession.
On the other hand, Trinamool Congress leader and minister Sashi Panja has also condemned the violence, stating that the state government and administration were taking steps to restore law and order in the area. Panja also alleged that Dilip Ghosh, who was leading the rally, was known for his radical statements and provocation. She further accused the BJP of vandalising public property during the Nabanna Rally.
Medinipur MP Dilip Ghosh, who was part of the Rishra procession shared visuals of how members of the Muslim community pelted stones at the peaceful Shobha yatra.
Stone pelting from Masjid towards #RamNavami rally at Rishra, Hooghly today. pic.twitter.com/HByHpER7cW
— Dilip Ghosh (@DilipGhoshBJP) April 2, 2023
“”Risra, Chuchura, or Sreerampor have never seen such violence. TMC is eyeing minority vote banks in Panchayat election and intentionally creating turmoil”, said Ghosh in a phone conversation with the New Indian’s correspondent Joymala Bagchi.
According to Hooghly MP, Locket Chatterjee, during the Ram Navami Shobha yatra in Rishra, Hooghly, Muslims hurled large stones at the procession while the police did nothing to intervene. “Police stood like mute spectators. The situation in the area remains highly tense, and the lives of Hindus in the vicinity are in danger,” said Chatterjee.
The tension in West Bengal is not limited to Hoogly. Incidents of violence have also been reported from Sasaram and Biharsharif in the state of Bihar. A massive clash broke out between two groups, resulting in the burning of vehicles on the road, chaos, and injuries to people who ran for safety after 5:30 PM.
Internet services have been suspended in Howrah in the wake of Ram Navami procession violence.
Flash | Internet services have been suspended in Howrah in the wake of Ram Navami procession violence, reports @joymalabagchi pic.twitter.com/dCYaPPOlqu
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) April 2, 2023
On Sunday, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose criticised the latest outbreak of violence that occurred during the BJP’s Shoba Yatra in Hooghly district, stating that the rioters will soon realise that “they’re playing with fire.”
The BJP claimed that the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) had received permission for the Ram Navami procession. However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the procession had used an unauthorised route, leading to the clash, and vowed to take stringent action against the miscreants.
The situation remains tense, and the police and the administration are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further escalation of violence.