Communal tension grips 2 states
BIHAR UNREST More than 100 people, including cops, have been injured in clashes between two religious groups over the past 10 days BENGAL TENSE Centre seeks report from TMC government over clashes in Raniganj even as area remains under prohibitory orders
PATNA: Clashes broke out between two religious groups in Bihar’s Munger early on Wednesday as communal tension triggered by violence during a festive procession in Bhagalpur on March 17 spread to seven districts, prompting the authorities to deploy additional policemen and paramilitary troopers to control the situation.
According to the police, more than 100 people, i ncluding policemen, have been injured in the violence over the past 10 days and several shops and business establishments set on fire.
The state government, struggling to restore peace, imposed prohibitory orders in some areas and deployed paramilitary and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel to tackle the unrest that broke out during this year’s Ram Navami celebrations. More than 200 people have been arrested so far.
Police said Munger became the latest addition to the list of troubled districts after violence broke out over a controversial song being played and inflammatory slogans shouted at an immersion procession of Chaiti Durga.
A large group had gathered in Munger’s Neelam Chowk thoroughfare in protest and the clashes began when the rally reached there, police said.
People from both sides shot firearms, threw stones and brickbats, and set property and vehicles on fire, police said, estimating that more than 100 rounds of gunshots were fired as the violence engulfed several neighbourhoods in the town. But there are no reports of any death in the firing.
Stones were thrown at policemen deployed to control the flare-up as well as ensure peaceful immersion of the goddess’s idols, forcing the authorities to order baton-charges and fire warning shots to disperse the mobs. Security forces are carrying out flag marches in sensitive areas.
“I am at one of the troubled
BHAGALPUR: Tension broke out in Bhagalpur’s Nathnagar locality after people of two communities clashed over an unauthorised religious procession taken out by saffron outfits and led by Arijit Shashwat, son of Union minister of state for health and family welfare, Ashwani Choubey. More than 35 people were injured. Internet services were suspended for two days. Two separate cases were lodged. Shashwat was named in one FIR. No arrests have been made so far.
SIWAN: A minor clash took place between Hindus and Muslims after a group of people stopped a Rama Navami procession at Hassanpura. People resorted to brickbatting and three vehicles were burnt. Six people were taken into custody. spots. It’s calm now,” said Vikas Vaibhav, the Munger range deputy inspector general of police.
In adjoining Jamui district, people at an idol immersion procession clashed with policemen. Several people, including six policemen, were wounded. “Two policemen were critically wounded,” Jamui superintendent of police (SP) Jagannath Reddy said.
According to eyewitnesses, who refused to be named, the violence began over the police’s
AURANGABAD, KAIMUR AND GAYA: Communal clashes broke out in the three districts. Aurangabd was the worst affected. More than 25 people were injured. Police had to clamp prohibitory orders and suspend internet services for an indefinite period. Police said around 150 people have been arrested. In Gaya and Kaimur, minor clashes were brought under control quickly.
SAMASTIPUR: Clashes broke out between two groups over a Rama Navami procession that came under attack by trouble makers. Around 10 people including a probationary Indian Police Service officer were injured. Three vehicles were set on fire. Internet services were suspended. refusal to allow a procession from entering an unauthorised route.
The Ram Navamii festival keeps police on the edge almost every year in Bihar as the processions are taken out for several days and trouble-makers try to foment communal trouble. This year, police said, the government has permitted 1,590 Ram Navami committees across the state to hold processions but several unauthorised rallies were taken out too. KOLKATA: The Centre has sought a report from the West Bengal government on a communal flare-up that occurred during a Ram Navami procession in Raniganj, West Burdwan district, three days ago.
The query followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s telephonic conversation on the issue with Babul Supriyo, Asansol Lok Sabha MP and MOS for heavy industries, on Wednesday.
A man was killed and several injured after the Bjp-organised procession allegedly tried to enter a Muslim-dominated locality in Raniganj on March 25. Two others lost their lives in the following days. The district administration has imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the CRPC in the area, and deployed police as well as Rapid Action Force personnel to prevent further violence.
Supriyo said he has briefed home minister Rajnath Singh on the matter too. “The Centre has offered to send additional forces,” he told mediapersons.
The state government, however, accused the Asansol MP of painting an inaccurate scenario before the Centre. “The state administration is handling the situation efficiently,” said education minister Partha Chatterjee.
A senior bureaucrat in the Bengal government confirmed the receipt of the central query, but described it as a “routine” affair. “The Union home ministry has sought a report from the state on the steps taken by the state administration in Raniganj. It also wants information on the action taken against those involved in the clashes,” he said on the condition of anonymity.
Partha Chatterjee, TMC secretary general and state education minister, downplayed the need for deployment of central forces. “It’s up to the chief minister to take a decision on the matter. We have handled difficult situations in the past too,” he said.
Supriyo had earlier accused law-enforcement agencies of doing nothing when “goons went on the rampage” in his constituency. “The most alarming fact is that the WB police remained inactive and far away from the spots. And, as the videos will prove, residents are alleging that police did not respond or take calls,” he said on Twitter.
The Asansol MP also claimed on the micro-blogging site that “dozens of goons from the minority community” came in matadors and cars to vandalise and burn down shops. They “pulled Hindus out of their houses and brutally assaulted them” with sharp weapons, he added.
RANIGANJ SCENARIO
The situation i n Raniganj remained tense for the second day despite an abatement of violence. Police continued to patrol largely deserted streets even as banks functioned through partially opened shutters. “The situation is under control but we are not taking any chances,” said Asansol-durgapur police commissioner LN Meena.
A police team led by Kolkata additional commissioner Vineet Goyal is being dispatched to ensure peace in Asansol. It will also have three IPS officers.
While CM Mamata Banerjee maintains that saffron activists triggered violence, BJP leaders have accused police of allowing people from the minority community to attack them.
Meanwhile, police arrested Sajal Mitra, town committee president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, on charges of bearing arms during the event. Following that, members of his organisation met Bengal governor Kesari Nath Tripathi to hand over a memorandum demanding the release of saffron activists held by police, action against those guilty of perpetrating violence, and the provision of monetary aid to Hindu families that suffered losses.