The West Bengal government has suspended internet services across the Hoogly district after violence broke out during a Ram Navami procession of the BJP on Sunday evening.
Besides, prohibitory orders are also in place in the district which witnessed stone pelting and arson, reported ANI.
The government said internet services will remain suspended in Hoogly till 10.00 pm on Monday. "No restriction is being imposed on voice calls and SMS and on newspapers hence communication and dissemination of knowledge and information is not stopped in any way," the state government’s order added.
"In order to prevent obstruction, annoyance or injury to any person lawfully employed, or danger to human life, health or safety or a disturbance of the public tranquillity, or a riot or an affray, through an order under section 5 (2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 read with the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, it is promulgated that," the government statement added.
Meanwhile, a heavy police deployment is in place in the area to prevent any further flare-ups. "Police are doing route march, and prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 have been imposed in Rishra wards 1-5 and Serampore's ward 24. Internet services will remain suspended in parts of Rishra and Serampore till 10 pm on Monday," a senior officer of the Chandannagar Police Commissionerate said.
The clashes reportedly happened on GT Road in the Rishra police station area. According to BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh, people in the procession were walking peacefully to the Jagannath temple in Mahesh when stones were hurled at it. "There were many women and children in the procession who were walking with saffron flags in their hands. Suddenly, stones were hurled at us from one side of the road. Several policemen were also injured in the stone-pelting even though I and some other leaders were rescued and taken out of the area through adjacent lanes," Ghosh further alleged.
Ghosh added that a BJP MLA Biman Ghosh, the legislator from the Purshura constituency in Hooghly, was injured in the stone pelting and had to be hospitalised. According to the post shared by the party on Twitter, Ghosh was badly beaten up by the goons supported by the Didir police.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar also wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah late on Sunday evening seeking the latter’s intervention. "In view of the deteriorating law and order situation, we immediately seek your kind intervention as per law so that the situation does not go out of control and life and property of ordinary citizens are saved," the letter Majumdar shared on Twitter read.
The violence in Hoogly comes days after similar clashes happened in the neighbouring Howrah district on Thursday and Friday. Over 45 people were arrested, prohibitory orders were imposed and the internet was suspended to bring the situation under control.