West Bengal is burning under the rule of Mamata Banerjee, who is currently sitting at a 48-hour protest against the Union Government demanding funds. On the other hand, incidents of vandalism and stone pelting are being reported from across the city.
First, the peaceful Ram Navami Shobha Yatra was targeted by an Islamist mob leaving several injured on March 30. And On March 31, after Friday prayers (Jumme Ki Namaz) mobsters targeted Hindu residential colonies in the Sandhya Bazar and Shibpur area of the city.
Ironically, the police administration watched the attack as mute spectators.
Instead of taking the situation under control and protecting the people living in these areas from the mobsters, Mamata from the protest site is making misleading comments.
She is making baseless allegations against volunteers of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) stating the attacks were planted by ‘BJP hired goons’.
“I have been busy protesting against lack of funds from the Centre for the last 48 hours, but I will ensure that the culprits get punished,” Mamata Banerjee said, urging people to maintain peace.
“One can easily understand the people who started the violence were not localities. They were hired by the BJP and were carrying guns and petrol bombs. They first attacked people from the minority communities,” she alleged.
“ We never stopped any community to hold any event. It is highly unlikely that the minority groups could have started the clashes as they are busy with Ramzan prayers, we have arrested 31 people so far,” she added.
On March 30, the Shobha Yatra day Mamata said, “I want to request those who are taking out Ram Navami procession, please do but do it peacefully. Kindly avoid Muslim areas as Ramzan is going on. Celebrate peacefully but don’t try to create violence. Don’t get provoked. Some BJP leaders are saying they will move with swords and knives during the procession. I say criminal offence is an offence”.
I want to request those who are taking out #RamNavmi procession, please do but do it peacefully. Kindly avoid Muslim areas as Ramzan is going on. Celebrate peacefully but don't try to create violence. Don't get provoked. Some BJP leaders are saying they will move with swords and… pic.twitter.com/8Exp7vRX0g
— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2023
Mamata alleged that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad members changed the route to target one community. She added, “Why did they change the route and take the unauthorised route to particularly target one community ?”
Responding to Mamata’s fake allegations, the Organiser of the Yatra Indra Deo Dubey said, “We did not deviate from the route. We followed the route map for the yatra which was submitted to the authorities. We even sought permission from the Railways as we had to cross a railway gate so that the railways does not face any problems. We had repeatedly requested the Police to provide protection to the yatra near PS Shivpur as disturbance occurs near there every time. We had given every information to the administration regarding the banners which would be displayed and slogans that would be raised during the procession”.
He added, “Before our procession, there was a procession of the West Bengal government. We did not have any information about it. The procession is carried out (by TMC) strategically and then the incident took place”.
As per the notice dated March 21, mentioning the VHPs Indar Deo Dubey and Surendra Verma secretary Anjani Putra Sena reads, the procession was to be organised under the supervision of Shibpur, Howrah and AJC Bose police stations.
In the organisers meeting the officials asked the organisers to stick to the route and complete the rally by 5 pm.
The route as mentioned in the VHP letter was:
BE College Gate-1, GT Road, Shibpur Tram Depot, Bengal Jute Mill, Sandhya Bazar, Mullick Fatak, Dr PK Banerjee Road, Foreshore Road, Ramkrishnapur Ghat.
Even after approving the route, Mamata claims the organisers did not stick to the plan. From the route mentioned above, miscreants targeted the procession. And even a day after the procession they targeted Hindu residential colonies in Shibpur and Sandhya Bazar area.
Mamata says Muslims cannot target the procession as they would be busy with Ramzan prayers. Shocking the Islamists are free enough, to not only target the procession but also launch an attack on Hindus a day after the procession.
Notably, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah called West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and enquired about the law and order situation in West Bengal.
Violence in Howrah | Union Home Minister Amit Shah called West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and enquired about the law and order situation in West Bengal.
(File photos) pic.twitter.com/AKvvDYEXiz
— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2023
The West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari while speaking with media said, “Police is not doing its work. They are silent spectators. They are not doing anything. All houses of Hindus have been vandalised. All Hindus in Kazipara area had to flee to save their lives”.
VHP had all the permissions for taking out the Ramanavami Shobha Yatra from BE College to Ramkrishnapur Ghat. They were on the approved route. Mamata Banerjee lied when she said the route had been changed. She prejudiced the investigation and law enforcement agencies. Shameful… pic.twitter.com/3dhzZHuH19
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 31, 2023
Shocking visuals from the attack after Friday prayers show the administration as mute spectators. In these clips, a large crowd of people wearing skullcaps can be seen running towards a residential colony in the Sandhya Bazar area. They hurled slogans like ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ and attacked the Hindu families living in the colony.
Situation is completely out of control in Howrah. Mobs turn violent. After attack on Ramnavami Shobha Yatra, fresh violence erupts in Shibpur area of Howrah. Media has been attacked. Law and order is a state subject and Bengal Home Minister Mamata Banerjee has failed completely… pic.twitter.com/EbKWN7TlwV
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 31, 2023
The mob is well equipped with sticks and stones. In a different video, the attackers can be seen hitting the doors to break them and barge into the houses.
Apart from the violent mob, the police officials can be seen standing idle as mute spectators. The clip shows Rapid Action Force (RAF) officials standing near the colony where the mobsters barged in, but they did not dare to stop them.
A similar attack was launched at the Shibpur area of Howrah where Islamists after ‘Jumme Ki Namaz’ attacked Hindus living there. The aggression comes a day after the Ram Navami’s procession was targeted in Howrah.
Watch | #WestBengal: Situation turns violent in Shibpur area of Howrah.
Fresh violence broke out here today, a day after arson on 'Ram Navami'. pic.twitter.com/cXNkY15fw5
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) March 31, 2023
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