5 police officials injured at Bengal Ram Navami rally

Five police officials were injured, with three sustaining serious wounds, during a Ram Navami procession in Purulia district of West Bengal on Sunday after they were allegedly assaulted by rally organisers. The incident took place at Beldi village.

The State witnessed large-scale Ram Navami celebrations in several districts, organised by both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Opposition BJP. In another incident in Purulia, children were seen carrying arms at a Ram Navami procession organised by the Bajrang Dal, a district official said.

“Soon after getting information that children were made to participate in a Ram Navami rally with arms, police rushed to the spot and seized the arms. They also escorted the children from the rally,” the official said.

Chairperson of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborti called up the DM to find out about the incident. Earlier this week the WBCPCR had written to all DMs to ensure that children participating in processions do not carry any arms. “We are monitoring the situation; will take stern action as per law,” Ms Chatterjee told The Hindu.

Speaking on the assault on police officials, District Magistrate (DM) of Purulia Alokesh Prasad Roy told The Hindu, “Five police officials including a Deputy Superintendent of Police were injured in an assault by organisers of a Ram Navami procession at Beldi village today. Sixteen persons have been arrested.” However, the police are yet to name any organisation or political outfit for the assault.

Several processions

Several armed processions were held in Purulia, Uttar Dinjpur and Paschim Medinipur districts. Apart from the armed rallies, large processions were also taken out to celebrate Ram Navami in Birbhum, Bankura, Cooch Behar, Nadia, North and South 24 Paraganas by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated organisations inlcuding the Hindu Jagaran Manch and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). In Kolkata several rallies were taken out by the RSS-backed Ram Navami Udjapan Samity (Celebration Committee).

Several BJP leaders including State President Dilip Ghosh and president of its Mahila Morcha Locket Chatterjee participated in the rallies.

District police officials in Birbhum said that a case will be lodged against Ms. Chatterjee for carrying a trident in the Rampurhat town in Birbhum. Many TMC leaders like - Tourism Minister Goutam Dev, Agriculture Minister Asish Banerjee, and TMC MP Dibyendu Adhikari - also took part in Ram Navami rallies.