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In West Bengal's Howrah, post-Pran Pratistha celebrations, a shocking wave of stone-pelting and temple vandalism stirs communal unrest; section 144 imposed to quell tensions, as allegations of Muslim appeasement by the state government fuel controversy
In the Belilious Road area of Howrah district, late on Wednesday night, a confrontation involving two different community groups resulted in injuries to almost two dozen individuals. This prompted the local authorities to implement Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as reported by The Indian Express.
To manage the situation and maintain order, a significant number of police officers and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were mobilized. The tension in the vicinity led to the closure of markets on Thursday.
The clash took place during a gathering of minority community members near Howrah railway station. The incident, marked by stone-throwing, occurred between 10 pm and midnight.
In response to the ongoing tension, the police and the RAF were deployed to the area. Consequently, the local markets were shut down throughout Thursday. Howrah Police Commissioner Praveen Tripathi has confirmed that investigations are currently in progress. A case related to rioting has been registered, although no arrests have yet been made. It was reported that participants from both sides engaged in stone-throwing during the altercation.
The conflict began during a community procession moving from Tikiapara to Fasitala along Belilious Road. This procession was met with slogans and rising tensions, sparking the onset of the clash.
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Police reports indicate that the clash ensued when some members of a community, participating in a rally from Tikiapara to Fasitala, encountered slogans raised by opposing sides on Belilious Road. This escalation of tensions led to the unfortunate outbreak of violence.
In response to the growing unrest, the police took substantial measures to maintain order. They heavily guarded all lanes and bylanes and erected barricades at various points. These barricades were strategically placed to control the movement of vehicles and, by extension, the crowd, in an effort to contain the situation.
Adding a local perspective, Sunil Sharma, a resident of the area, shared his account of the events. “Members of a community took out a religious procession from Tikiapara in Belilious Road. They wanted to go to the Gorabazar area where a religious event took place two days back. However, the police stopped them at the Vishti Para area and did not allow them to move in that direction. But some people from the rally went to the Gorabazar area and started pelting stones. Soon members of another community also pelted stones at them.”
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During the recent communal clash in Howrah, the limited number of police personnel initially present found themselves overwhelmed as the situation intensified. The conflict not only involved community members but also affected the police directly. "Even some policemen were hit with stones. The stone pelting continued for one and a half hours. Some shops and a few e-rickshaws were damaged. Later, more police came and fired tear-gas shells to disperse the mob," a local resident reported to The Indian Express. This account highlights the severity of the clash, with extended violence and property damage, and the eventual need for reinforcement and the use of tear gas to control the situation.
Amidst this turmoil, Union Minister Smriti Irani, who was in Kolkata at the time, pointed fingers at the Trinamool Congress, accusing the party of harboring those responsible for the unrest. Her criticism extended to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, especially regarding a recent all-faith harmony rally.
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"Stones were pelted in Howrah yesterday. Goons who are sheltered by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress tried to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere there. The police didn’t reach the spot where stone pelting was going on. But they appeared and stopped the live-streaming (in Kolkata) when the PM was addressing youth voters. INDIA alliance leaders’ disrespect towards Sanatan Dharam and Lord Ram is evident," Smriti Irani stated. Her remarks reflect a political dimension to the incident, suggesting a deeper, ongoing conflict between political parties and their differing stances on religious and cultural matters.
State Minister Shashi Panja responded to the situation by accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to incite communal tensions. BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya, in turn, alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) played a role in instigating the violence, criticizing the police for their inaction during the clash.
Addressing the comments made by Union Minister Smriti Irani, Shashi Panja retaliated by saying, “The BJP always gives speeches to stoke communal tension and to create a division between religions. This does not happen in Bengal. On January 22, our party supremo Mamata Banerjee led a rally and said all religions are equal. The BJP’s communal game will not be allowed in Bengal.” This statement emphasizes the TMC's stance on religious equality and their disapproval of the BJP's alleged tactics to create religious divides.
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On the other side, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya accused the TMC of instigating the violence, focusing on the role of the state police during the incident. “When the incident was taking place and turning violent with both sides pelting stones at each other, the police took no action. No arrest was made. The violence was instigated by a local TMC leader who asked his party workers to pull down all hoardings and posters of the BJP in the area. There was a resistance from the local people against an act of hooliganism,” Bhattacharya claimed. His statement suggests a direct involvement of TMC in the escalation of the conflict and criticizes the police for their lack of intervention.
In the midst of the rising political rhetoric and communal tensions following the clash in Howrah, West Bengal, State Minister Arup Roy has called for peace. Emphasizing the actions taken by the police, he highlighted their swift response in addressing the situation. Roy mentioned that "the police acted promptly to control the situation, with Section 144 being imposed to prevent further violence." This action, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, is a preventive measure to stop the gathering of large groups, aiming to curb any potential escalation of the conflict.
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Adding to the official response, Howrah Police Commissioner Praveen Tripathi provided an update on the situation. He stated that "they are investigating the matter and a case of rioting has been initiated into the incident." This indicates that the police are actively working to uncover the details of the clash and hold those responsible accountable. However, Tripathi also noted that, as of now, "no arrest has been made in this connection yet," according to the police. This reflects the ongoing nature of the investigation and the complexities involved in such communal incidents.
The police also shared that individuals from both sides of the conflict engaged in stone-pelting, suggesting a mutual escalation of violence during the clash.
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