46 rioters held, CID to probe Howrah Ram Navami violence

HOWRAH: The Bengal government on Friday asked the CID to probe the violence in Howrah's Shibpur in the wake of Ram Navami processions as cops arrested 46 people over Thursday and Friday and clamped Section 144 on a 600-metre stretch of G T Road between Shibpur Tram Depot and Howrah Maidan.
As a precautionary measure, internet was suspended till 2am on Saturday at multiple places in Howrah, Barrackpore and Asansol.
The crackdown on rioters followed a stern message from Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who called them "enemies of the state" on Thursday. She followed up the message on Friday, accusing the BJP of planning the Howrah violence and blaming the party for instigating riots "in over a hundred places across the country".
"I had repeatedly said that the rally should not be allowed to enter that specific route," she said. "It was not a religious procession in the first place. Criminals armed with guns and petrol bombs came with a deliberate motive and attacked, ransacked shops and people who were fasting for Ramzan," she added, calling the incident "very unfortunate". "Hindus did not do it (the violence)," she stressed, adding: "We are all Hindus, this was done by BJP outfits. Criminals are criminals."
CM Banerjee and governor C V Ananda Bose had a "confidential meeting" on the issue later on Friday evening. A Raj Bhavan release said Banerjee assured the governor that "swift and decisive" action would be taken against the perpetrators of the violence. Bose also asked for a compliance report and set up a special cell to monitor the issue.
The developments followed Union home minister Amit Shah's calls to the CM and governor enquiring about the situation. State home secretary B P Gopalika met Bose in the evening and submitted a report on steps taken.
Senior cops camp in tension zones as RAF personnel patrol streets
Kolkata: The CID probe into the violence in Howrah’s Shibpur in the wake of Ram Navami processions will be handled by a special team led by inspector-general Sunil Choudhury.
Senior officials, including additional directorgeneral of police (South Bengal) S N Gupta, inspector-general of police (law and order) Manoj Varma, Howrah Police commissioner Praveen Tripathi and Howrah superintendent of police (rural) Swati Bhangalia, camped at the spot.
Personnel from the Rapid Action Force and the Special Armed Forces patrolled the zone as tension flared up briefly again on Friday afternoon. State chief secretary H K Dwivedi added that the situation was under control in Howrah and traffic movement was normal. Duare Sarkar camps would be held as usual in Howrah from Saturday, he added.
Officials on Friday said they had written to Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Ram Navami Shobhayatra Rally convenor, Indra Deo Dubey, asking the organisers to ensure no other community was provoked and rallyists did not carry arms, use motorcycles and DJ boxes. All the conditions were violated, officials said.