Violence marks Ram Navami processions in 6 states; 2 killed, dozens hurt; Amit Shah talks to Bengal guv, cancels Bihar visit

Two persons were killed and as many as 20 incidents of violence in six states were reported during the Ram Navami procession, which is observed to celebrate the birthday of Hindu god Ram, in the country. Authorities in several places imposed curfew and deployed forces in sensitive locations across the states including Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.

In Delhi, religious procession was carried out in sensitive northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area – which had witnessed communal violence last April – despite city police denied permission for the same. Deputy Commissioner Of Police (Northwest) had denied permission to a right wing outfit, Akhil  Bharatiya Hindu Yuva Morcha (ABHYM) for a Ram Navami event to be held at a local park. Other Hindutva groups like Bajrang Dal and Hindu Sena were to be present at the event. Police had denied permission to hold Friday Ramzan prayers at the park too, citing law and order issues in the communally charged area, as per newspaper reports. However, there was no incidence of violence was reported. Meer Faisal, a journalist, has posted videos of all of these events on his Twitter account.

Violence during Hindu festivals has become the new normal in the wake of Hindus insisting on carrying out the religious procession through the Muslim localities. Mostly, the incidents of violence were reported from the Muslim-dominated localities. In April last year, clashes erupted in at least 10 states during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. Violence was reported in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra over several days.

West Bengal

In West Bengal, clashes erupted in two areas – Howrah and Dalkhola. Several vehicles including some belonging to police were torched during clashes in Howrah on Thursday. In Dalkhola, a person was killed while several others were injured following clashes between two groups. Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, spoke with the West Bengal Governor, C.V. Ananda Bose, to gather details about the violent clashes. Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said strict action would be taken against the perpetrators of the violence and asserted that usage of an unauthorised route for the procession led to the clash.

Union minister Smriti Irani hit out at state government for failing to stop violence. “Instead of delivering justice, CM Mamata protected those who took law in their hands and attacked the Shobha Yatra of Ram Navami. She instead put those who took out the yatra in the dock and gave a clean chit to those who pelted the procession with stones,” she said.

 Bihar

Authorities in several districts including Nalanda and Sasaram ordered suspension of internet services for 48 hours that left several people injured, including six with bullet injuries. Section 144 (prohibitory orders) were also imposed in the two districts. Incidents of violence were also reported from Lakhisarai during the Shobha Yatra. In Lakhisarai, members of the right wing group Bajrang Dal brazenly brandished swords and sang provocative songs.

“Fourteen people were brought to the hospital. Three of them have been referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital and one person is undergoing treatment in ICU,” said Nalanda Sadar hospital doctor Viswajeet Kumar.

Meanwhile BJP has deferred the proposed visit of Union home minister Amit Shah to Sasaram to take part in a function amid the reports of violence. Shah is scheduled to land in Patna on Saturday on a two-day tour of Bihar and later was scheduled for Sasaram on the same day to mark the birth anniversary of Samrat Ashok.

Maharashtra

Fight between two men outside a Ram temple in Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad) district on Wednesday night led to clash between two groups. Following the clash between two groups, a mob of around 500 people hurled stones and petro-filled bottle as police personnel tried to bring the situation under control. At least 12 persons, including 10 police personnel, were injured in the clashes, as per media reports. The police arrested over 20 persons in connection to a clash that broke out between two communities on the occasion of Ram Navami in Mumbai’s Malad area, an official said on Friday. “The police have so far apprehended more than 20 persons on the charge of rioting and the process to place them under arrest is on,” the official said.

Gujarat

The Gujarat police have claimed that two Ram Navami processions were attacked in Vadodara city. Police also alleged that people hurled stones at each other and damaged several vehicles on the road.  The incidents had occurred on Thursday when Ram Navami was celebrated. Vadodara Police Commissioner Shamsher Singh said the situation in the city was under control and people were carrying out their routine activities, according to The Hindu. “We have so far detained 24 persons in connection with the stone pelting incidents that occurred during the Ram Navami processions in the city on Thursday. They will be formally arrested soon after the registration of first information reports (FIRs). The situation is completely under control and normalcy was restored yesterday itself,” Singh said.

Karnataka

Two people were stabbed after two groups clashed over taking out a Ram Navami procession in Channarayapatna town in Karnataka’s Hassan district, IANS reported. The incident took place near Jamia Mosque when a group objected to the procession leading to a clash with another group, in which two boys were stabbed. The injured boys, Murali and Harsha, who sustained injuries in the neck and abdomen, are under treatment.

Uttar Pradesh

Clashes broke out between two groups during the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra near Shahi Masjid in Lucknow that was taken out on Thursday. According to sources, the fight involved stone pelting and physical assault. As per media report, the incident took place in the Madiyav village under the Jankipuram police station area. The dispute reportedly lasted for about 10 minutes.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM