During processions marking Ram Navami, the Hindu festival commemorating the birth of Hindu God Ram, communal riots erupted in four states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
Gujarat:
Communal violence were reported in Gujarat’s Anand district’s Khambhat and Sabarkantha district’s Himmatnagar. Officials added that stone-pelting and arson were recorded in both locations, and that police had to use teargas shells to keep the situation under control.
“The body of an unnamed man, who seems to be around 65 years old, was retrieved from the area where the two groups clashed during a Ram Navami parade,” Police Superintendent Ajeet Rajyan said in Khambhat.
In Dwarka, one person was arrested for torching Hindu religious flag. Accused was booked under IPC Sections 143, 146, 153A(1), 295, 295A and 149.
Madhya Pradesh:
According to a top official, parts of Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone have been placed under curfew following rioting and burning during a Ram Navami parade. To avoid a flare-up, a considerable number of police officers have been sent.
Stones were allegedly hurled at a march that started from Talab Chowk area following an incident over loudspeaker music, according to Additional Collector SS Mujalde. “Police had to fire teargas shells to quell the situation,” he further added.
Bengal:
After reports of violence during a Ram Navami procession in the Shibpur district, police officers have been stationed in significant numbers in Bengal’s Howrah. Police have stated that they are taking precautions to keep the peace.
The BJP, which is in opposition, claims that the police attacked the Ram Navami procession. Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, accused police of showering blows on individuals taking part in the Ram Navami parade.
Residents in Howrah have been asked to exercise caution when publishing anything on social media, and they have been advised against propagating fake news.
Jharkhand:
Stone-pelting and arson attacks on Ram Navami processions have also been reported in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga. Several people were hurt, and three of them were critically injured, according to reports.
