Bengal Governor Visits Rishra, Tense After Fresh Violence: 10 Points
Local, mail and express train services had been suspended following the violence
Hooghly (West Bengal):
Those involved in the spate of violence in Bengal’s Hooghly and Howrah since Ram Navami will face strict action and peace will be established, Governor CV Ananda Bose said today.
Here are top 10 developments in this big story:
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The Governor was in Rishra after a fresh round of violence last night. He cut short his trip to Darjeeling, where he had gone to attend a G20 meeting, and rushed to the suburban town in Hooghly district.
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“There will be solid action by all enforcement agencies. We will never allow miscreants to take law in hand, police will come down heavily on them. Bengal has been suffering for a long time, we will put an end to it,” the Governor said.
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Stone-pelting near a level crossing in Rishra last night led to suspension of train services on the Howrah-Bandel section for about 3 hours last night, the Railways said. The movement of trains resumed post midnight. Several long distance trains were delayed, Railways said.
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This morning, tension gripped the town. Most shops remained closed and people stayed indoors after police clamped prohibitory orders. Police and riot control personnel also conducted marches in Rishra and adjoining Serampore, a senior officer said.
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Internet services remain suspended as police try to quell rumours. The state police have also dismantled a stage set up for a protest by state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar in Serampore, citing the law and order situation.
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The districts of Hooghly and Howrah near Kolkata have been on the boil after communal clashes broke out during Ram Navami rallies.
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Several vehicles were set on fire on Thursday after two groups clashed in Howrah. Public property was vandalised and police had to use tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. Another round of violence erupted in Hooghly Sunday.
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The violent clashes have sparked a political slugfest between the ruling Trinamool and the BJP. Trinamool’s general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has accused the BJP of engineering the violence for political gains.
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A 19-year-old man has been arrested from Bihar’s Munger on the basis of a video shared by Mr Banerjee, also Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew. Sumit Shaw was seen with a gun in the video.
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The BJP has alleged that the video posted by Mr Banerjee is not from the Howrah rally that was organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The party has accused the Trinamool leader of maligning Hindus and demanded a probe against him. NDTV cannot verify the authenticity of the videos.
