Union Home Ministry seeks reports from Bengal on Ram Navami violence

The Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the West Bengal government over the violent clashes that took place during the Ram Navami procession last week.

The action comes following the letter written by West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party chief Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday.

The Home Ministry has sought a report from the Bengal government over the spate of violence and the allegedly deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

This is his second letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the Bengal violence.

"In continuation to my earlier letter dated March 31 regarding the communal attack on the processions of Ram Navami in Howrah and Dalkhola, it is further informed that the attack has not yet been stopped and is occuring in different parts of West Bengal," the BJP's Bengal chief said in the letter.

He also noted that the attack took place during the Ram Navami procession at Rishra in Hooghly district on Sunday where BJP MP Dilip Ghosh was taking part.

"Along with the Ram Bhaktas he too was attacked by stone pelting. His vehicle was torched and incidents of arson happened as police stood still as mere spectator which strenghten our allegations that there is definite support from the ruling party TMC and section of the administration led by Mamata Banerjee who has already issued several statements in favour of the miscreants belonging to the minority community," Majumdar wrote.

"In view of the deteriorating law and order situation, we immediately seek your kind intervention as per law so that the situation does not go out of control and lives and properties of ordinary citizens are saved," he also said.

Post the violence, Shah had telephoned the Bengal Governor, C V Ananda Bose. Sources tell OneIndia that Shah had sought information from him on the circumstances that led to the violence on Thursday last. Shah also took stock of the exact situation in the state given the fact that he was not given a formal update from the Bengal government.

Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee had only informally spoken about the clashes at a protest rally in Kolkata, while accusing the BJP of orchestrating the violence.

The Home Ministry wants to know why security was lacking especially at a time when Ram Navami coincided with the Muslim fasting month of Ramzan. While the police action seemed to be timely in many parts it was only in Bengal and Bihar that the action seemed to be lacking the source also said.