Fresh violence erupts in West Bengal’s Howrah despite heavy police deployment

West Bengal (India), March 31, 2023: Fresh incidents of violence and stone-throwing have been reported in West Bengal’s Howrah despite heavy police deployment following communal clashes during a Ram Navami procession on Thursday.

The clashes resulted in several vehicles being set on fire, shops being ransacked, and at least 36 people being arrested. The violence erupted in Shibpur just hours after the road where the incident took place was opened up to traffic.

According to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the procession took an unauthorized route “to particularly target and attack one community.” She also accused the BJP of hiring goons from outside the state to orchestrate communal riots. “Nobody has stopped their processions, but they do not have the right to march with swords and bulldozers. How did they get the audacity to do this in Howrah?” she said.

In response, the BJP has accused the Trinamool Congress of lying, stating that there was permission to take the route until the Howrah ground and that it was not the wrong route. The West Bengal BJP president, Sukanta Majumdar, said, “Now such days have come in India that you can take out the Ram Navami procession in some areas but can’t go to other areas.”

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between political parties and religious communities in the state and the failure of authorities to prevent violence during religious processions. The situation in Howrah remains tense, and additional security forces have been deployed to prevent further violence.