New Delhi: In the wake of Ram Navami violence in Howrah, West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose said those who resort to violence under the illusion that they can hoodwink people will soon realise they are in a fool's paradise and there will be “effective and concerted action to book the culprits and bring them before the law”.
“Bengal stands united against the perpetrators of the heinous crime against humanity. Trouble makers and the abettors will be made to realise that they cannot play Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in Bengal anymore. Police should be objective, strong and fair and should not let down their masters and the peace-loving people,” Governor Bose said in a statement issued on Friday.
This comes hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with him and state BJP chairman Sukanta Majumdar over the Ram Navami violence in Howrah on Thursday.
As a mob went on a rampage, burning automobiles, hurling stones, and ransacking stores, a substantial police detachment was deployed in the area on Thursday. Numerous police cars were also damaged as a result of the event.
Meanwhile, fresh incidents of stone-pelting by unidentified people on police personnel, deployed in Howrah's Kazipara area, were reported on Friday.
The police had to resort to baton-charge to disperse the agitating crowd. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were also imposed in Kazipara area, police said. At least three policemen were injured in the violence.
"The situation was calm and peaceful until this afternoon. After that, police personnel were pelted with stones which sparked tension in the area. Some people were arrested as our officers reacted instantly," a senior IPS officer said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
A total of 46 people were arrested in connection with the violence since Thursday.