Riot Control Police In Bengal’s Howrah After Violence On Ram Navami

Several vehicles were set on fire and stones were thrown as clashes between two groups broke out in West Bengal’s Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations today. The violence broke out soon after a Ram Navami procession crossed the area. Visuals showed several vehicles engulfed in flames and a heavy police deployment – including riot control force –  in the area. A police van and a car with their glasses smashed were also seen in the videos from the spot.

Police fired tear gas shells and several of them were seen chasing the rioters.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is on a two-day sit-in protest in Kolkata against Centre’s policies, called “rioters the enemy of the country”. ” Be cautious of your actions,” she warned.

On Monday, the BJP slammed the Trinamool Congress for announcing protests on March 30, the day of Ram Navami celebrations. Suvendhu Adhikari, the BJP’s leader in the state assembly, said those who believe in the “sanatan culture” will celebrate Ram’s birth anniversary. Instead of declaring a holiday on the day, she has announced protests after making “fabricated and false” claims, he alleged.

Earlier in the day, Mamata Banerjee urged devotees to take out processions “peacefully”.

“I want to request that those who are taking out processions for Ram Navmi today, please do but do it peacefully. Celebrate peacefully and don’t try to create violence. Don’t get provoked,” Ms Banerjee said from the stage on Day 2 of the dharna organised by her party.

The Trinamool chief began her protest in front of Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue on Red Road area in the Bengal’s capital city yesterday to protest against the Centre’s alleged “stoppage” of funds to the state for MGNREGA and other schemes of the housing and road departments.

The day was overall peaceful, barring a few reports of violence from across the country. Some vehicles were damaged in Fatehpura area of Gujarat’s Vadodara city on Thursday, police said. No one was injured in the incident and the procession passed along its planned route under police protection, said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Yashpal Jaganiya.

Last evening, a police team was attacked and several of their vehicles were set on fire during a violent clash between two groups in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad last evening. An argument between two groups had snowballed into the clash, which has been renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. The incident took place in Kiradpura, which has a famous Ram temple, Police Commissioner Nikhil Gupta said.