Ram Navami Violence: Sec 144 Imposed in Nalanda's Bihar Sharif After Fresh Clashes Erupt in Area

Section 144 has been imposed in Nalanda’s Bihar Sharif after fresh clashes erupt in the area.

Patna | We requested the Bihar Governor to take note of this matter (cancellation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Sasaram visit due to the imposition of 144 following the communal violence during Ram Navami celebrations) and seek information on it from the state government. We appealed to him to take action: BJP state chief Samrat Choudhary

Trinamool Congress on Saturday questioned the decision of West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose to set up special cell for real time monitoring the situation at Howrah’s Shibpur- Kazipara area in wake of the clashes over a Ram Navami procession that started on Thursday and continued till Friday afternoon.

On late Friday afternoon after the Governor took a detailed report from the state chief secretary H. K. Dwivedi and the state home secretary B. P. Gopalika about the situation in the tension-prone area, a strong-worded statement was issued by the Raj Bhavan from where the decision to set up this special monitoring cell was announced.

“Governor ordered real time monitoring of the situation and constituted a special cell for the same,” the statement of Raj Bhavan read.

The statement also mentioned about “a confidential discussion to review the situation” between the Governor and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Saturday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party over the “Hindus are in danger” narrative following the Howrah communal violence in West Bengal during Ram Navami celebrations.

“The ‘Hindus are in danger’ narrative started full flow by @BJP as of Ramnavami. Will go on till 2024. Pak attack, Foreign forces targeting India bakwas running slow this time. Only fool-proof fallback is Hindu card. Jai Maa Kali. Buddhi de maa. Save my country,” Moitra tweeted.

Over 20 people were arrested after a clash broke out in Nalanda district of Bihar between two groups following a Ram Navami procession on March 31, a police official said on Saturday. 14 people were injured in the incident, according to doctors at a Nalanda hospital.

The clash broke out on the 10th day of Ram Navami celebrations near Gagan Diwan under the Laheri Police Station area in Biharsharif, which is the district headquarters of Nalanda. Some in the crowd pelted stones and set around half a dozen vehicles ablaze.

Altogether 45 people have been arrested in connection with communal riots at Sasaram and Bihar Sharif towns that erupted during the Ram Navami festivities. The communal riots at Sasaram and Bihar Sharif towns were sparked off late Thursday and continued till Friday.

In a statement, the PHQ also asserted that “normalcy has been restored” in both the places though senior officers were camping in the affected areas by way of caution and heavy deployment of forces continued.

Rohtas SP Vineet Kumar says that section 144 “is not” imposed in Sasaram, and it is a “rumour”. In Sasaram, heavy deployment of forces is in place and senior officials like Deputy Inspector General of Police Naveen Chandra Jha, District Magistrate Dharmendra Kumar and Superintendent of Police Vineet Kumar were patrolling the affected localities, issuing appeals for peace.

Howrah Commissioner of Police, Praveen Tripathi, said 38 have been arrested in connection with violent clashes on Ram Navami. “We are going to every apartment, and confident build measure is taking place. We want to appeal to people to maintain peace,” he added. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said told a press meet that the violence was the result of the alleged appeasement politics of the Mamata Banerjee government which failed to rein in “anti-national forces”.

Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais has asked chief minister Eknath Shinde to ensure that stern action was taken against those involved in an attack on a police station in Aurangabad city. Bais had a telephonic conversation with Shinde, Raj Bhavan sources said. At least 12 persons including ten policemen were injured on Thursday after a mob of around 500 people hurled stones and petrol-filled bottles when cops tried to control the situation following a clash between two groups near a Ram temple in Kiradpura locality of Aurangabad.

A case has been registered against suspended BJP MLA Raja Singh for making inflammatory, provocative and abusive speeches on Ram Navami near a Majid, violating protocol. A case has been registered against under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday alleged that communal violence was on the table for the BJP with the 2024 general elections approaching, and recent incidents in West Bengal and Gujarat were a “trailer.” Violence and arson was reported from West Bengal’s Howrah district after clashes broke out between two groups during Ram Navami festivities, with the BJP and the TMC trading barbs over it. Violence during Ram Navami festivities on Thursday was also reported from Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Union home minister Amit Shah’s programme in Bihar’s Sasaram has been cancelled amid section 144 imposed in the district. He is, however, scheduled to address public in Nawada tomorrow. Amit Shah is arriving Patna today evening at 6.25pm. Sasaram Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manoj Kumar had ordered imposition of Section 144 on Friday afternoon after re-eruption of clashes, which first broke out the previous evening.

Police said that 27 people have been arrested in Nalanda, while 18 people have been arrested in Sasaram in connection with Rama Navami violence. Prohibitory orders were also clamped on Sasaram and Bihar Sharif towns, the headquarters of Rohtas and Nalanda districts respectively, following communal tensions.

Clashes broke out between two groups during Ram Navami Shobha Yatra on Thursday night in Pathar Gatti, Charminar area of Hyderabad. First, a group of 8-10 youngsters came on a bike, and allegedly started attacking another group which led to more clashes. Two persons have sustained injuries. A case had been booked under sections 341,323 read with 34 of the IPC. Several suspects are being questioned.

DCP Shilwant Nandedkar said that two more accused have been arrested in connection with the clash that broke out between two groups in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’s Kiradpura area. A total of 10 have been held so far.

A publication posted pictures from Shibpur in Howrah, day after Ram Navami-related violence and arson. The area seems to be limping back to normalcy.

Bihar: Nalanda SP Ashok Mishra said that police are patrolling the area, and are on alert. “We’re maintaining peace. Over 20 people were arrested. Eight people were injured, while three sustained bullet injuries. People shouldn’t believe rumours. Situation under control,” he added.

“Situation in Jharkhand’s Haldipokhar and other parts of the district is completely under control and peaceful. Adequate forces have been deployed. As of now, there’s no need to impose Section 144. Situation is being monitored,” East Singhbhum deputy commissioner said.

“The slow burner communalism that BJP has been trying to spread in the country results into violence, we condemn the violence and request central and state govt to ensure that peace is restored quickly,” said Congress leader Pawan Khera on incidents of violence during Ram Navami.

The BJP has termed it as a ‘fabricated incident’. In one video, a young man wearing a yellow kurta is seen waving a revolver and in another video, a young man wearing jeans, a green T-shirt and saffron bandage on his forehead, is seen carrying a revolver in his hand.