Ram Navami clash in West Bengal: Rishra flare-up after Dilip Ghosh's convoy, 12 held

RISHRA: Incidents of stone-pelting and arson were reported from Rishra, about 23km from Kolkata, after a Ram Navami procession led by BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh was passing by a mosque on Sunday evening.
Ghosh was whisked away by his security detail and police, but Pursurah BJP MLA Biman Ghosh was reportedly injured in stone-pelting.
Till the time of going to press, 12 people were arrested in this connection, with the state government vowing not to spare the guilty. The incident, on the heels of similar incidents in Howrah, prompted Trinamool to question why "only BJP-led" rallies were spiralling into violence.
Bengal governor C V Ananda Bose told reporters that the "miscreants, hooligans and thugs will be crushed with an iron hand. Mobocracy cannot derail democracy. We are determined, the state is determined, to put an end to this arson and looting. The lawbreakers and their abettors will soon realize they are playing with fire. Reinforcement of forces has rushed to the spot. The culprits will be booked tonight itself and put behind bars."
The Ram Navami rally started in Bangur Park in Rishra and was to end at Serampore's Mahesh, about 2km away. The clashes broke out at the fag end of the procession, at Boro Masjid Tala.
According to reports, there was large-scale stone-pelting, and instances of vehicles being set ablaze as the violence spiralled at the fag end of the procession led by BJP national VP Dilip Ghosh.
Several people, including cops and locals, were injured.
The RAF was deployed and additional forces, headed by Chandernagore police commissioner Amit Javalgi, rushed in. The cops started raiding several places to trace the vandals. The incident drew criticism from the government. “We condemn the incidents of arson and violence that took place in Hooghly,” said minister Shashi Panja. “The state is trying to restore law and order in the area. Today’s rally was spearheaded by Dilip Ghosh. He is known for his radical and provocative statements. This is the same party that resorted to destruction and vandalism of public property during the Nabanna rally. During the tenure of this central government, we have seen an escalation of communal riots across the country,” she added.
Ghosh blamed the violence on “some criminals from a particular neighbourhood”. “I have been part of this rally for some years. It started peacefully, escorted by cops. When we reached this spot, some criminals pelted stones at us. The cops were taken off-guard. The MLA was injured. Iwas lucky to survive,” he said. Biman Ghosh, the MLA who was reportedly injured, said:
“If an MLA can be attacked like this, what of common people?”
MP Kalyan Banerjee, who rushed to the spot, said Ghosh had provoked people. “His statements and gestures near Wellington Jute Mill led to this unrest. Ram Navami rallies are not new to Rishra, but such violence never took place before.” Local MLA Sudipto Roy said: “This hooliganism during festivals is new. I have spoken to cops. Things are now under control.”
Prohibitory orders and internet suspension have been implemented in nearby areas.