Prohibitory orders lifted in Asansol

ASANSOL: Prohibitory orders in the riot-hit areas of Asansol and Raniganj were on Monday lifted with peace and normalcy returning to the region, police said.

The route march by security forces has also been withdrawn in the area, a senior police official said, adding that pickets have also been pared in the region from Monday. “The situation in Asansol and Raniganj is largely peaceful,” sub-division officer Pralay Row Chowdhury said.

Internet services, however, will remain suspended in the region till April 4, the police official said.

The NHRC on Monday sent a notice to the West Bengal government and the state’s police chief over alleged failure of law enforcement agencies “in protecting the liberty and dignity” of people, who have become victims of violence in the Asansol-raniganj area during Ram Navami celebrations.

Expressing serious concern over the situation, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued the notice to the state’s chief secretary, home secretary and the director general of police, seeking a detailed report in four weeks, senior officials said.

WANTED TO QUIT AFTER CLASHES: SUPRIYO

Union minister of state for heavy industries Babul Supriyo, who represents Asansol in the Lok Sabha, said on Monday he wanted to resign from his post and quit politics after the communal violence in the industrial town in West Bengal last week, but was “inspired” by PM Narendra Modi to stay on and fight.

Supriyo said, in a series of tweets, he was restrained from walking away by a man “who leads by example” and “works relentlessly for his countrymen ignoring all this noise of deceit and false propaganda”.