3 min readDiamond HarbourJun 13, 2025 04:18 AM IST
First published on: Jun 13, 2025 at 01:30 AM IST
At least 40 people have been arrested and seven FIRs have been registered within 24 hours of the clashes that broke out in the Rabindranagar area of Maheshtala in South 24 Parganas district, and soon spread to the adjacent Nadiyal area in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon.
Five policemen, including a woman cop, were injured in the clashes that broke out over a dispute regarding the spot of a Muslim fruit vendor’s cart and the planting of a Tulsi plant near a temple in the Rabindranagar area.
While 28 people were arrested by police in South 24 Parganas district, 12 were arrested by the Kolkata Police.
DIG (Presidency Range) Akash Magharia said, “So far, three cases have been filed and 28 people arrested by the West Bengal Police.”
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime, Kolkata) Rupesh Kumar said: “A total of four FIRs have been registered at the Nadiyal police station based on complaints from police personnel. Twelve people were arrested by the Kolkata Police last (Wednesday) night.”
The West Bengal Police, in a statement on X, confirmed the coordinated action, saying, “None of those who have indulged in violence will be spared.”
“The situation is now peaceful and under control. Prohibitory orders under 163 BNSS have been imposed in the Rabindranagar PS area in the interest of peace. Representatives of all political parties or groups are advised not to visit the area till 163 BNSS is in place,” it said.
The authorities have also appealed for calm and urged citizens to refrain from spreading misinformation on social media. “Those attempting to incite unrest will be dealt with strictly, in accordance with the law,” the police said.
Earlier in the day, police stopped state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar from going to Maheshtala. Majumdar then went to Kalighat to protest outside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence along with supporters. He was detained, and later released.
5 held with explosives in Budge Budge, police say one of them a BJP worker
Sweety Kumari
Police on Thursday said they have seized explosives in Budge Budge area, near Rabindranagar where clashes took place a day ago.
Police said they arrested five people while they were carrying materials used in bomb-making and are investigating whether it was linked to the clash.
Superintendent of Police (Diamond Harbour) Rahul Goswami said: “Around 8:45 pm yesterday (Wednesday), acting on intelligence inputs, the police intercepted three bikes and recovered a large cache of explosive materials. These included substantial quantities of sodium powder, over 10 kg of aluminium powder, phosphorus dust, red sulphur, and iron dust — all used in making crude bombs.” “Five arrests have been made in connection with the seizure”, the SP said, adding one of them — Nabin Chandra Roy — has admitted, during the questioning, that he is an active RSS and BJP worker.
“On the day of Ram Navami, he was seen at the Bata More, where a verbal altercation occurred over the rally route and barricades. We have video footage where he could be seen throwing police barricades,” the SP said.
Aftermath of a clash that broke out between police and the people in Rabindra Nagar, in South 24 Parganas on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) 
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