Bengal: Fresh Spate Of Violence In Hooghly During Ram Navami Procession

Fresh arson and communal tensions triggered violence in the Hoogly region on Sunday evening, nearly two days after violence erupted in several parts of West Bengal following Ram Navami festivities.

Violence erupted on Sunday (April 2) in West Bengal's Hooghly while the BJP was leading a Ram Navami procession. Earlier this week, clashes erupted between two groups during a Ram Navami procession in Bengal's Howrah.

Visuals from the procession show people fleeing for their lives as stones are thrown at them. The video of the incident was posted on Twitter by the news agency ANI.

BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh took part in the Ram Navami shobha yatra, NDTV reported. The rally was organised by the BJP, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and other Hindu organisations, it said. 

Amit Jabalgir, the Commissioner of Police for Chandannagar, rushed to the scene with an additional police force after receiving the information.

According to the BJP, MLA Biman Ghosh was injured in the attack.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose stated that democracy cannot be derailed and that lawbreakers will soon realise they are playing with fire. "Hooligans and thugs will be crushed with an iron hand. They will be made to curse the day they were born. Democracy cannot be derailed. The state is determined to put an end to arson and looting. Lawbreakers will soon realise they are playing with fire "ANI quoted him as saying.

The violence in Hoogly occurred just a few days after Ram Navami clashes in Howrah. In connection with the clashes, 38 people have been arrested.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that neither Hindus nor Muslims were responsible for the violence that erupted during a Ram Navami procession in Howrah's Kazipara area.

She also urged residents of both communities to keep the area peaceful and law and orderly. Banerjee admitted that the police had failed and promised that strict action would be taken.

On Thursday, several vehicles were set on fire in Howrah after two groups clashed during Ram Navami celebrations. Rioters vandalised public and private property and set fire to vehicles during the procession.

Following the violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations, the West Bengal government handed over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday.