Kolkata: A middle-aged man was killed, several policemen including a Deputy Commissioner of Police critically injured and several houses and shops burnt in repeated clashes that broke out during Ram Navami processions at Raniganj in Burdwan South on Monday. There were also repeated clashes at Kandi in Murshidabad, in which a minor boy was injured.
Despite a ban on processions with arms, BJP and its allied organisations had been taking out the same. It claimed one life in Purulia on Sunday, while tension ran high in Raniganj on Monday, following a clash between two groups over taking out processions with arms on the eve of Ram Navami.
A procession was taken out at Raniganj market area on Monday morning, when another group tried to stop the procession. Chaos erupted as they started pelting stones at each other. Bombs were also hurled and it created panic among people in the area, who started running for shelter.
Arindam Dutta Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner of Police (headquarters), went to the spot with a large contingent of police to bring the situation under control. They also started pelting stones at the police, leaving many injured. They even hurled bombs.
Chowdhury didn't realise that a bomb had been hurled at him and tried to shield it with his hand. He received severe injuries on his hand as the bomb exploded. The situation turned worse when a section of the mob started damaging shops and houses in the area. They also set many shops and houses on fire.
Members of both the groups attacked each other with swords and wooden logs. One Manoj Mondal, a local resident, was also beaten up, resulting in his death.
RAF and combat forces were deployed, who brought the situation under control. Police pickets have been posted to ensure that the law and order situation in Raniganj doesn't deteriorate further.
The scenario was quite similar at Kandi in Murshidabad, where a clash broke out between the police and people including some BJP workers, who had taken out processions with arms.
The police urged them to take another route. But they were not ready to accept the proposal of the police and as a result the procession had to be stopped. They started pelting stones at the police as soon as they were not allowed to march further.
Meanwhile, Birbhum police have initiated a probe against BJP leader Locket Chatterjee for carrying arms in a procession held in Rampurhat. She was found carrying a Trishul while leading a rally. The police have filed a case against her in this connection under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.