KOLKATA: There were pockets of unrest all over the country on Sunday, but there was an uneasy calm as a result of a number of FIRs, new arrests, & travel restrictions on BJP leaders in Bengal.
With that, there is a continued bulldozer action in UP against those blamed for the violence on the streets on Friday, which has links with the incidents of protests over controversial comments about the Prophet Muhammad.
61 more people were taken into custody by the UP police that day, including an imam from Prayagraj named Ali Ahmad on suspicion of inciting violence. Near Ahmad’s mosque in Atala, protesters and police had fought.
Arrests and FIRs against 6,000 or more people have taken place in the state since Friday. In Prayagraj, in JK Ashiyana, a building estimated to be worth Rs 5 crore was razed and the owner was sent with a notice on May 10, officials said.
FIR Registered Against Nupur Sharma
In West Bengal, a new FIR against suspended BJP’s spokesperson “Nupur Sharma” was lodged in East Midnapore’s Contai police station, bringing the number of cases reported in connection with the violence in Howrah & other areas of the state to 25 over the last 48 hours.
At least 112 persons have been charged with rioting, arson, and inciting violence. Howrah SP (rural) Swati Bhangalia claimed that more than 30 of arrested people had been booked under non-bailable sections such as attacking police, attempted murder, damaging public property, and obstructing the national route.
No new incidents were recorded in Howrah or Murshidabad, but a passenger train traveling from Ranaghat to Lalgola in Nadia’s Bethuadahari was stone-pelted, according to sources.
Train services between Ranaghat and Lalgola are pending authorization from the Railways.
A sense of normalcy has returned to Howrah following Saturday night’s occasional outbreaks of violent crime.
Prohibition orders were extended in five police station areas in Howrah district until June 15 by district magistrate Mukta Arya. On Monday, Internet access will be re-established.
An angry Trinamool Congress alleged BJP tried to stop opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari from meeting with party members in Howrah and accused the BJP of constantly disrupting the peace.
According to him, “BJP is inciting people by playing to their supporters’ emotions. They’ve lost the election, and they’re having a hard time controlling their own party’s dissension.
To keep their ship afloat, Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh remarked, “They are hunting for issues.”
East Midnapore police stopped Adhikari from going to Howrah, where Section 144 is currently in effect.
An urgent letter was sent by the BJP member of parliament to the chief secretary, accusing him of attempting to “restrain my movements.” The next time Adhikari is stopped, he plans to take his case to court on Monday.
Myself Aditya and I am from Mumbai, India. As an intern, I joined the local news agency in Mumbai named “The Mumbai News”. Now I am working with various News Agencies and I provide them reports from Mumbai and other parts of India.
