Bengal: Prohibitory Orders In Howrah After Violence Erupts During Durga Puja Celebrations, 30 Arrested

Howrah News: Prohibitory orders under Section 163 were imposed in Shyampur after unrest during Durga Puja celebrations led to arson and vandalism.

Section 163 of BNSS, which has replaced Section 144 of CrPC, was imposed on Monday in the Shyampur area of Howrah, West Bengal after unrest broke out during Durga Puja celebrations, leading to arson, vandalism, and subsequent violence the previous day. The clashes reportedly began over an issue centred around an alleged controversial picture, prompting a community to start protests. Visuals from the area showed significant damage and acts of arson. 

Swati Bhangalia, Superintendent of Police (SP) Howrah (Rural), provided details of the incident, stating, “An unrest broke out in Howrah during a Durga Puja celebration due to an issue centred around a picture, due to which a community started protesting. Some people came to the Police Station to file a complaint regarding the same. While we were having discussions with them and writing complaints, some people attacked the police. We responded to it and arrested around 25-30 people...”

According to her, the police also received complaints that there were some incidents of vandalism reported at puja pandals. “Police were sent to review the situation. The situation is now under control. We are patrolling and we have a request to the people to maintain communal harmony. We have also imposed Section 144,” she told the media on Sunday.

She emphasised that the situation is now under control and prohibitory orders would be imposed on Monday.

Howrah Violence: BJP Urges West Bengal Police To 'Take Action Against Unruly Vandals'

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, called on authorities to act against those involved in the violence. He posted on X, “Today a group of miscreants while returning from the Shyampur Police Station where they went to submit a deputation, went berserk and started vandalising the Durga Puja Pandals...I would like to urge the DG @WBPolice to send adequate forces immediately at the spot to quell the vandalism and take action against the unruly vandals. Secretary @HomeBengal, you must monitor the whole situation till normalcy is restored. DM @HowrahDistrict & SP @RuralHowrah please take all steps necessary…”

Amit Malviya, BJP IT Cell in charge, also commented on the situation via X, saying, “West Bengal is burning, again. A group of criminal thugs, after submitting a deputation at Shyampur Police Station, unleashed chaos in the Shyampur area. These anti-social individuals engaged in blatant vandalism, targeting Durga Puja pandals in the locality…" 

“The situation has grown increasingly tense in areas under the Shyampur Police Station, which comes under the Howrah Rural Police District. This is a heinous act of violence and an assault on our traditions and the peaceful observance of Durga Puja,” he wrote.