Calcutta High Court seeks report from Bengal government on Ram Navami riots

Kolkata (IANS)| A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday sought a detailed report from the West Bengal government on the recent Ram Navami clashes in Howrah and Hooghly districts. Acting Chief Justice T.S. A bench of Justices Sivagnanam and Hiranmoy Bhattacharya directed the state government to submit the report along with the CCTV footage of the clashes by Wednesday.

The action took place during the first hearing of a PIL filed by Shubhendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. It sought a probe by the central agency into the March 30 clashes, which had turned Shibpur and Kajipara in Howrah into a battlefield.

The bench also directed the state police to ensure that the general public is not affected due to the tension.

Criticizing the role of the police in the matter, the bench asked the administration to be vigilant so that such incidents do not recur.

Also on Monday, state Advocate General Soumendra Nath Mukherjee faced questions from the bench on the alleged failure on the part of the police in the case.

Justice Sivagnanam asked why the police failed to give advance notice of such possible incidents, although similar incidents had happened in the past. How can the police have such a careless attitude? What action has been taken so far? Has section 144 been imposed in those areas?

The advocate general of the state said that the police allowed the peaceful procession.

After some time a section of the protesters resorted to violence, he informed the court. Section 144 has been implemented. Internet services have been suspended in some areas. So far 36 people have been arrested,

The next hearing will be on Thursday.

–IANS