Howrah’s Kazipara, Shibpur limp back to normalcy after clashes

Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel conducted route marches for area domination as state CID officers continued their probe into Thursday’s vandalism, the police officer said.

A decision to revoke the suspension of internet services in and around the area will be taken after evaluating the situation, he said.

“Things are normal and there was no incident of law and order concern in the last 24 hours. However, we will continue with the prohibitory order and a decision on lifting of internet service suspension will be taken later. Police deployment will continue for the time being. We will not take any chance,” the IPS officer told PTI.

On Thursday evening, clashes broke out between two groups when a Ram Navami procession was passing through Kazipara in Howrah town.

Several shops were ransacked during the violence while a number of cars, including a few police vehicles, were set on fire.

Police personnel deployed in the area were pelted with stones on Friday afternoon following which prohibitory orders were imposed in the area and internet services were suspended.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday alleged that the BJP and other right-wing organisations were behind the violence in Howrah’s Kazipara area during a procession on Ram Navami.

The BJP denied the allegations of Banerjee and instead demanded an NIA probe into the matter.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday spoke to West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose over the violence during a Ram Navami procession in Howrah and took stock of the situation.

Shah also spoke to BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar in this connection.