29 arrested after tension over Ram Navami procession in Bengal's Murshidabad

Kolkata: At least 29 persons were arrested in connection with violence in Murshidabad's Raghunathganj over attack on Ram Navami rally organized by BJP and clashes between two groups.

The newly appointed DGP of West Bengal Siddh Nath Gupta has submitted a report on this issue on Saturday to WB-CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal in regard to Raghunathganj violence and the report has been forwarded to ECI, a top official said. EC said that police have registered six cases, four of which were initiated suo motu.

At least 40 persons have been admitted to the hospital. Meanwhile, a huge contingent of CAPF have been deployed in the area.


Police resorted to lathi charge at Jangipur in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district following clashes between two groups during a Rama Navami procession on Friday. Incidents of vandalization, setting fire on the things and clashes took place.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, from her public rally that yesterday's Raghunathganj incident is unfortunate.

"We too celebrate Ram Navami and take out processions. But we never incite violence or create riots. Don’t blame me for the law & order situation," she said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Kolkata today, said, “This time, with ECI in charge and with so many reshuffles across the state, there has been less violence in Ram Navami in Bengal.” He also said that ECI has appointed “neutral officers” after the reshuffle in Bengal and slammed Trinamool Congress for turning the officers in administration into party cadres.