Will Never Allow Forces Of Darkness To Take Society To Ransom, Says Bengal Guv, Visits Violence-Hit Hoogly

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has assured that strict action would be taken against those who stoked violence in the state on Ram Navami.

As areas of Bengal continue to witness violence following Ram Navami, Governor CV Ananda Bose said people's right to a peaceful living will be ensured at any cost and that strict action will be taken against the perpetrators of the 'pernicious event'.

He said, "This is a pernicious event. We will never allow forces of darkness, predators of the freedom of the ordinary man to take society to ransom. We will take strict action against wrongdoers. People have a right to peacefully living, that right will be established at any cost."

"People of Bengal have suffered enough, no more suffering," he said.

The Governor has also reached violence hit Hoogly where fresh violence erupted on Monday night and section 144 had to be imposed in Serampore.

An uneasy calm prevailed in Rishra in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Tuesday morning after fresh clashes were reported in the town on Monday night.

Most shops remained closed and few people were seen on the streets as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC remained clamped.

Route marches were conducted in the affected areas in Rishra and adjoining Serampore, a senior official of the Chandannagore Police Commissionerate said. Internet services remained suspended as police urged people to maintain calm and not fall for rumours.

He said that train services along the Howrah-Bardhaman line resumed on Tuesday morning after being affected by incidents of fresh clashes near railway gate number 4 in Rishra on Monday night. 

Bose expressed concern over the incidents of fresh violence in Rishra and spoke to the chief secretary and home secretary and took note of the current situation in Hooghly district, sources in the Raj Bhavan told news agency PTI.

Police said they dismantled a stage for a scheduled sit-in demonstration of state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar in Serampore, citing the prevailing law and order situation.

Clashes were first reported in Rishra on Sunday evening during a Ram Navami procession in which BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh and party's Pursurah MLA Biman Ghosh were present. The MLA was injured and hospitalised.

Incidents of clashes during Ram Navami processions in West Bengal were first reported in Howrah city on March 30.