File report on Ram Navami clashes: MHA to Bengal govt

NEW DELHI: The home ministry on Tuesday sought a report from the West Bengal government on the communal clashes that broke out in several parts of the state on Ram Navami, particularly the police action so far, in view of complaints received from state BJP head alleging "partisanship" of the cops in handling the situation.
The state chief secretary has been asked to submit the report "at the earliest possible", sources told TOI.

Earlier on Tuesday, West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar sent a letter to home minister Amit Shah in which he questioned the response of West Bengal police "under its present DGP Manoj Malaviya" to the current communal situation. He alleged the state police had "completely lost its spine and impartiality".
"Democratic rights are being curtailed by the police of West Bengal under Malaviya," Majumdar wrote, while seeking Shah's intervention and requesting that possible violations of Central Civil Services Conduct Rules and DoPT guidelines by IPS officers engaged in handling the clashes.
Majumdar also expressed concern over continuing violence against Ram 'Bhakts', Hindus community and BJP workers in Bengal; and suspension of trains in Hooghly district in the wake of stone-pelting at rail stations.
Questioning the handling of clashes by Bengal Police, Majumdar wrote, "Instead of protecting the life and properties of ordinary people, particularly the Hindus affected, it is harassing and arresting them while looking (sic) a blind eye to the actual culprits and criminals from the minority community when they can be easily identified from CCTV footage (sic)."