KOLKATA: Following largescale violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations, the West Bengal government on Friday handed over the probe to Criminal Investigation Department (CID). A special team led by Inspector General of Police-CID, Sunil Choudhury, has initiated the investigation.
The situation turned violent in Shibpur area of Howrah on Friday. Fresh violence broke out on Friday, a day after arson on Ram Navami. Several vehicles were set on fire earlier on Thursday after two groups clashed in Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations. During the procession, the rioters vandalised public and private properties and set vehicles on fire.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose and took stock of the situation in Howrah where violence broke out. Shah also called West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and enquired about the law and order situation in the state.
The West Bengal BJP chief on Friday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations.
Following the violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations, Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday filed PIL in the Calcutta High Court seeking a NIA probe into the matter and immediate deployment of central forces in the violence-affected areas.
The Acting Justice of Calcutta High Court granted leave to file the PIL and directed the same to appear at top of the list on Monday, April 3.
Speaking to ANI, Adhikari said, “Police (Home) Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is useless. Her resignation is the only solution. I sent a mail to the Union Home Minister and Governor yesterday. Today, I approached the High Court. Governor is going to visit the spot. The court should step in and all this should stop. Section 144 (CrPC) has been imposed here”.
The West Bengal Police on Thursday conducted a flag march in Howrah where violence broke out during a Ram Navami procession. (ANI)