New Delhi: Fresh clashes have been reported between protesters and police in Howrah, West Bengal. The agitation by a group of people over the suspended BJP leader’s remarks on Prophet Mohammad turned violent for the second consecutive day today.
During violence in Howrah’s Panchla Bazar area, police used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters after stone-pelting protesters. The administration has banned the gathering of three or more people till June 15, 2022.
Internet services were suspended in Howrah till 6 am on Monday as protests against objectionable remarks by BJP leaders on Prophet Muhammad turned violent on Friday, with protesters attacking police, setting fire to roads and railway tracks. blocked.
State Home Secretary BP Gopalika directed that internet services would be temporarily suspended in some parts of Howrah in the interest of public order. However, voice calls and SMS have been exempted.
Protests in Kolkata remained peaceful, but there was massive traffic disruption in Park Circus and Kidarpur areas. Passengers were stuck on NH-6 and its feeder roads, including the Kona Expressway. The protest which started in Dhulagarh and gradually spread to Domjur, Chengail, Panchala, Salap and Uluberia in rural Howrah.
The police resorted to lathi-charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The protesters tried to damage the passing vehicles. In Uluberia, a police kiosk was vandalized and a police van set on fire. As the police cleared one section and moved to another area, the protesters came back to renew the blockade.
After the appeal of CM Mamta Banerjee, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar also appealed for peace. He demanded an immediate update on law and order from the Chief Secretary of the state. Senior TMC leader and MLA Tapas Ray said, “We believe in equality and respect all religions, caste and creed. BJP is trying to destroy the secular fabric of the country.”
A PIL was filed in the Calcutta HC, seeking a special weekend hearing whether the Army should be deployed to prevent repeated blocks on NH-6.
first published:June 11, 2022, 11:32 a.m.
