Ram Navmi violence: Fresh clashes in Bengal; other 3 States normal

Ram Navmi celebrations on Thursday were by and large peaceful across the country except for several violent incidents while devotees taking out processions in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka.

As per a latest report, however, fresh violence erupted on Friday morning in West Bengal's Howrah a day after miscreants attacked an ongoing Ram Navmi procession in Kazipara area of the twin city.

Reports of the fresh clashes came in soon after police claimed that the situation is peaceful and under control. A senior official told PTI that a large number of police have been deployed in the area to maintain peace.

"There was no untoward event in the night. Heavy police deployment continues and senior police officers are present in the area. We have conducted raids in different places and arrested 35 people till now in connection with Thursday's clash," the official said on Friday. Identity of the detainees will be verified from video grabs and legal actions against the perpetrators will follow, he said.

Miscreants torched several vehicles, including some belonging to the police, and ransacked shops and auto-rickshaws during Thursday's violence. Ten people were reportedly injured in the incident and 36 people have been detained.

Meanwhile, the BJP has filed a PIL in Calcutta High Court over Howrah violence demanding an NIA probe into the violence while urging for the deployment of the central forces in the area.

In Gujarat, police have detained 24 persons for hurling stones at two Ram Navmi processions in communally-sensitive areas in Vadodara. Stones were hurled at two separate processions when they were passing through Fatehpura and nearby Kumbharwada. At least two persons were injured in stone-pelting by a mob at Kumbharwada, the police said.

Vadodara Police Commissioner Shamsher Singh said the situation in the city was under control and people were carrying out their routine activities. "We have detained 24 persons in this connection so far. They will be formally arrested soon after registering FIRs. The situation is completely under control and normalcy was restored yesterday itself," Singh said.

Similarly, Mumbai Police have apprehended more than 20 persons in connection with a clash between two groups during a Ram Navmi procession in Malvani area. The incident occurred on Thursday night in suburban Malad (West) when the procession was in progress. At least 14 cops were wounded in the violence.

Also, clashes broke out between two groups in Hassan in Karnataka during a Ram Navmi procession. Four people have suffered injuries after they were stabbed when the procession was passing by a mosque. However, preliminary investigation has said that it was a minor scuffle and the situation is normal in the city. A total of nine people have been arrested.

Apart from these incidents, the celebrations remained largely incident-free in the rest of the country with people coming out on the streets with religious fervour and enthusiasm and law-enforcement agencies on the watch.

With inputs form PTI