BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari wrote a letter to the West Bengal Governor and sought a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into clashes during a Ram Navami procession in Murshidabad's Rejinagar area. Around 20 people were injured after stones were pelted at the procession from rooftops. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been imposed in the area.
Meanwhile, a woman was injured in a blast in the district's Shaktipur area. Police are yet to ascertain if it was a bomb blast or the explosion happened due to other reasons.
The incidents triggered a war of words between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. While the BJP blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's provocative communal speeches for the clashes in Rejinagar, the TMC accused the saffron party of triggering tensions ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
Several videos have surfaced on social media showing people pelting stones at a Ram Navami procession from their rooftops in Murshidabad's Rejinagar area. The BJP alleged that shops were also vandalised.
As the situation escalated, police resorted to lathi charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The injured have been admitted to Murshidabad Medical College.
Later, the situation was brought under control, and additional forces have been deployed in the area. Section 144 has been imposed in the district, banning gatherings of more than five people.
The BJP also alleged that another Ram Navami procession was attacked and pelted with stones in Medinipur's Egra. BJP's Amit Malviya said party workers would gherao the Egra police station to protest the "brutal attack".
Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari wrote a letter to Governor Ananda Bose, saying Ram Navami processions were disrupted and attacked at various places across the state due to Mamata Banerjee's provocative speech. Adhikari demanded an NIA probe into the incidents and urged the Election Commission of India to take action against the CM.
Source: India Today