Tension in West Bengal after Ram Navami violence; BJP, TMC indulge in political blame game

Kolkata: Tension prevailed over parts of Raniganj and adjoining areas in West Bengal's Paschim Burdwan district on Wednesday following clashes over Ram Navami rallies, even as the state government rushed a crack police team including senior officiers to prevent any breach of peace, sources said.

"We are maintaining a tight vigil. So far things are normal. We expect everybody to maintain peace", said a senior police officer posted at one of the troubled locations.

File image of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. PTI

A clash broke out between two groups centering a Ram Navmi procession in Raniganj on Monday. A person was allegedly hacked to death while a Deputy Commissioner of Police lost a hand after getting hit by a bomb.

The Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the state government on incidents of arson and violence during the processions.

However, the Trinamool Congress government denied knowledge of any such directive from the Central government, and blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party for the unrest.

"Those who will break the law will have to pay for it. At this moment, the disturbed areas of Raniganj or Asansol should be brought under control. Those miscreants with BJP flags have tried to scupper peace and harmony of these places," said Education and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee.

"This is a deliberate attempt by the BJP to create disorder in the state," he alleged.

Chatterjee said he had no information about Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi planning to visit the affected area to see the condition of the injured senior police officer, but maintained that peace should be restored before any such trip.

"I do not have that information. But before going there, peace shou ld be restored in the area."

He also denied any knowledge of whether the Governor has been stopped from visiting the area.

"I don't know about any such development. But what I feel is peace and harmony should be restored in Raniganj and Asansol before he goes there. There is ample time for his visit."

Chatterjee also turned down the Central government's offer of assistance of paramilitary forces.

"We are capable enough to handle present situation. We have handle d more difficult situations before," he said.

Meanwhile, there was intense patrolling by police and Rapid action Force personnel in north Asansol, especially in the Dhadka area, where a police vehicle was vandalised and two Trinamooloffices torched over fresh violence over a Ram Navami procession on Tuesday.

Sources said a special team from Kolkata police led by Additional Police Commissioner Vineet Goel was being dispatched to Raniganj to prevent any more untoward situations.

Two other senior IPS officers, Siddh Nath Gupta and Jawed Shamim were also being sent to the troubled spot.

The BJP on its part alleged that the administration was trying to forcibly stop Ram Navami processions and lodging cases against its leaders.

"The administration is trying to forcibly stop this (processions). Cases are being slapped against BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists. This is only escalating the violence. If the administration wants peace, they should stop acting out of vengeance. Police should be restrained," said state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh.

Another BJP leader Mukul Roy lambasted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "whiling her time" in Delhi to try and cobble together a 'Third Front' while police personnel were getting injured in the state.

He also alleged there was a "state-sponsored terrorism" in Bengal.

Several shops and houses were vandalised and set ablaze over the Ram Navami related clashes in parts of Paschim Bardhaman district. Police have arrested 19 people so far for fomenting trouble.

On Sunday, five police personnel were injured as clashes broke out over a Ram Navami rally in an area under Arsha police station in Purulia district.

The BJP, which is trying to pitchfork itself as the main challenger to the Trinamool in the state, has been using the Ram Navami celebrations since last year to appeal to the sentiments of the majority Hindu population.

Sensing the BJP's motive, the Trinamool also resorted to celebrate the occasion massively on its own this year.