After fresh violence broke out in Hooghly district in West Bengal after Ram Navami, all local and mail express train services on Eastern Railway's Howrah–Barddhaman main line were suspended for three hours between Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
Easter Railway chief public relations Officer, Kaushik Miron, said in a statement that an incident of stone pelting occurred at Rishra station. “Train movements over the Howrah-Bandel main line section in both up and down direction had to be suspended from 22:06 hrs of 3.4.2023 in view of stone-throwing incident near level crossing gate no. 4 (spl) of Rishra (Shrirampur end),” he said.
Clashes after Ram Navami
Days after Ram Navami clashes in West Bengal, the violence erupted on Sunday in Hooghly during BJP’s procession, where stones were also thrown. During the violence, people had to run for cover towards safety.
Last week, clashes had erupted between two groups when a Ram Navami procession was passing through Kazipara in Howrah town. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew and TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee had alleged the BJP and other right-wing groups were behind the violence.
In a tweet, BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari alleged that “Rishra is burning” and the entire state administration is enjoying a beach holiday in Digha.
“Stone pelting & bombing near Rishra Railway Station forced suspension of local & express train services on the Howrah-Bardhaman Line. After RPF's action train services now have been restored. Rishra is burning & the entire State Administration is enjoying beach holiday in Digha,” he said.
Plea in Supreme Court
Meaanwhile, a Hindu organisation has moved the top court seeking registration of FIRs in recent incidents of violence on Ram Navami in different parts of the country.
The plea has sought directions to the state governments concerned to determine the loss incurred by the people who sustained injuries or lost their lives in the violence. It has also sought directions to chief secretaries of the states concerned to submit reports regarding the causes which led to mob attacks and violence.
(With inputs from PTI)
