Ram Navami clashes: Amit Shah calls off Bihar visit, drone surveillance in violence-hit Howrah

New Delhi,UPDATED: Apr 1, 2023 15:17 IST

Here are the top developments on Ram Navami clashes:

• As many as 45 people have been arrested in connection with communal riots at Sasaram and Bihar Sharif towns that erupted during the Ram Navami festivities, the state police headquarters told PTI.

  A vehicle set on fire by miscreants during clashes between two groups amid a procession a day after 'Ram Navami', in Nalanda district (PTI)

  The communal riots at Sasaram and Bihar Sharif towns were sparked off late Thursday and continued till Friday and prohibitory orders were also clamped.

  Section 144 was also imposed in Bihar's Nalanda and massive security deployment was done after clashes broke out between two groups. Police said over 20 people were arrested, eight people were injured while 3 sustained bullet injuries due to the violence.

• Reacting to the communal violence, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "It's unfortunate, I've asked officials to take information of those who were involved in these incidents. This is politically motivated. It isn't 'natural', definitely, somebody might have done something 'unnatural' here and there."

  Bihar | It's quite unfortunate, I have asked officials to take the information of those who were involved in these incidents and take appropriate action. It isn't 'natural', definitely, somebody might have done something 'unnatural' here and there: CM Nitish Kumar on Ramaâ€æ pic.twitter.com/rajq7FbNQi — ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2023

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled his tour of Sasaram in Bihar where prohibitory orders are in place following communal tension sparked off during Ram Navami festivities.

  Police personnel attempt to maintain law and order after clashes broke out between two groups during a procession a day after 'Ram Navami', in Nalanda (PTI)

  Amit Shah's visit of Sasaram in Bihar’s Rohtas district was called off due to imposition of Section 144. Heavy deployment of forces is in place and senior police officials also patrolled the areas, issuing appeals for peace.

  Bihar | Union Home minister Amit Shah was supposed to come to Sasaram for an event. As Bihar govt imposed Sec 144 we have to cancel the event. How can we hold an event like this?: Samrat Chaudhary, Bihar BJP chief pic.twitter.com/tV0U6VL0oL — ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2023

• In West Bengal too, clashes erupted in two areas -- Howrah and Dalkhola -- during Ram Navami celebrations. Police said a group of people attacked a Ram Navami procession and started throwing glass bottles, stones and bricks at those who had participated in it. Prohibitory orders were also imposed after the violence erupted in Howrah.

  Security personnel conduct a flag march after clashes broke out between two groups during a 'Ram Navami' procession on Thursday, at Kajipara in Howrah district (PTI)

  Fresh violence erupted in Howrah on Friday and protesters pelted stones at each other. The situation remained tense in Howrah amid claims and counter-claims over the route of the procession and whether permission was at all granted for it. Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of planning the violence for a month and said she did not stop the Ram Navami rally.

• The internet was suspended in some areas within the jurisdiction of Howrah Town, Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate and Barrackpore Police Commissionerate till 2 am Saturday in the wake of violence.

  The violence in West Bengal also triggered a political slugfest between the ruling TMC and the BJP, with the CM Mamata Banerjee blaming the saffron camp for the uneasy situation in the state. Bengal MP Jagannath Sarkar has also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah requesting the intervention of Central forces to prevent the spread of repression in Howrah. The Lok Sabha MP has demanded a National Investigative Agency (NIA) probe to determine the root cause of riots.

  WB Govt & Howrah Police is to be blamed completely for the deterioration of Law & Order as they could not prevent the recurrence of the violence which happened last year at the same venue.
  Also, only innocent people have been arrested unfairly who were actually attacked. — Suvendu Adhikari â€â àæ¶àçàæ­àç‡àæèàçàææàç àæ…àæçàæ¿àæ•àæ¾àæ°àç€ (@SuvenduWB) March 31, 2023

• The BJP alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led government remained “a mute spectator” when devotees of Lord Ram were attacked and injured. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari approached the Calcutta High Court over the violence that erupted in Bengal’s Howrah and Dalkhola during Ram Navami celebrations demanding an NIA probe and deployment of central forces.

  Security personnel cordon off an area after clashes broke out between two groups during a 'Ram Navami' procession on Thursday, at Kajipara in Howrah district (PTI)

  West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said those who resort to violence under the illusion that they can hoodwink the people will soon realise they are in a fool’s paradise.

• In Maharashtra's Aurangabad, as many as 12 people, including ten police officers were injured after a mob of around 500 people hurled stones and petrol-filled bottles on police. A clash broke out between two groups near a Ram temple in Kiradpura locality. One person succumbed to injuries during the day, while police have arrested seven people in connection with the violence.

  Maharashtra | A clash broke out between two groups in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar's Kiradpura area

  Stones were pelted, some private & police vehicles were set on fire. Police used force to disperse the people and now the situation is peaceful. Police will take strict actionâ€æ pic.twitter.com/u9qa5XYyPk — ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2023

• Police detained five youths for hoisting a saffron flag at a mosque during the Ram Navami processions at Kharkhoda in Haryana’s Sonipat. The youths allegedly raised slogans and disrupted prayers at the mosque, too. Police officials have been patrolling the area. ACP (law and order) Vipin Kadian said a case has been registered against five youths.

• Four men were arrested for disturbing peace outside Jamal Masjid in UP's Mathura during a Ram Navami procession, police told PTI. The four were accused of hoisting saffron flags atop shops by a mosque on Thursday. A video of the entire incident was widely circulated on social media.