West Bengal Ram Navami violence: Clashes were also reported from Hooghly district later.
Kolkata/New Delhi:
The Calcutta High Court has ordered a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the Ram Navami violence in West Bengal.
There was violence in West Bengal during Ram Navami celebrations last month.
Acting on a petition filed by BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari, the High Court ordered the transfer of investigation from the West Bengal Police to the anti-terror agency.
The court also directed the police to transfer all records and CCTV footage to the central government within two weeks so that the NIA can take over the investigation.
Several vehicles were torched, stones were pelted and shops vandalized during clashes between two groups at Shibpur in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations last month.
Later, clashes were also reported from Hooghly and Dalkhola districts.
Both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP shared videos as evidence, blaming each other for the violence.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee had earlier alleged that the BJP had approached the High Court seeking a probe by the central body NIA, as they wanted to evade probe in the state to “avoid action”.
“They know they will be caught if there is an investigation here,” he said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of allegedly trying to incite communal tension during the procession. He alleged that the BJP hired goons from other states to carry out communal riots.
The BJP has denied the allegations.
BJP MP Locket Chatterjee alleged that “Hindus are in danger in Bengal” and accused Ms Banerjee, who is also the state’s home minister, of appeasement politics.