After clashes broke out between two groups during a Ram Navami procession in West Bengal's Hooghly district, Governor CV Ananda Bose on Sunday said that hooligans and thugs will be reprimanded for their actions and put behind the bars, news agency ANI reported.
"Hooligans and thugs will be crushed with an iron hand. They will be made to curse the day they were born. Democracy can’t be derailed. State is determined to put an end to this arson & looting. Lawbreakers will soon realise that they’re playing with fire," he stated.
The Governor further stated that such types of violence "thwarts democratic processes," adding that the "reinforcement has been rushed to the spot, and culprits will be booked tonight itself and put behind the bars. We’re determined."
The incident took place on GT Road in the vicinity of the Rishra police station, according to BJP vice-president Dilip Ghosh, who was in the procession, PTI reported.
Stones were thrown at the parade of people as they quietly made their way to the Jagannath temple in Mahesh, he claimed.
Sukanta Majumdar, the head of the West Bengal BJP, wrote to Union Minister Amit Shah on the Ram Navami violence in the state and pleaded for quick assistance.
According to a senior official of the Chandannagar Police, the altercation started about 6.15 o'clock. Speaking with PTI, the IAS officer stated: "The procession was going through the traditional route when one group started throwing stones at it. We took immediate steps to address the situation."
She said that because of the police's quick response, the issue is now under control.
To stop any more flare-ups, a significant police presence has been deployed in the area, the officer added. Biman Ghosh, a BJP lawmaker from Pursurah, claimed he was hurt by stone pelting and was taken to the hospital right afterwards.
''There were many women and children in the procession who were walking with saffron flags in their hands. Suddenly, stones were hurled at us from one side of the road. Several policemen were also injured in the stone-pelting even though I and some other leaders were rescued and taken out of the area through adjacent lanes,'' he claimed.
The reason for holding the parade two days after Ram Navami was questioned by the ruling TMC.
Blaming BJP for the incident, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated: "The incident that took place in Hooghly was pre-planned by BJP. These people are trying to create unrest in the name of Ram Navami. We’re taking the stock of situation. BJP is watching who can create more ruckus Dilip Ghosh or Sukanta Majumdar."
On Thursday and Friday, Ram Navami festivities in the nearby Howrah region were marred by violence. To get the situation under control, more than 45 people were detained, prohibitory orders were issued, and the internet was shut down.
(With Inputs From ANI, PTI)