Both local and mail express train services on Eastern Railway’s Howrah-Barddhaman main line were halted for three hours between Monday night and early Tuesday morning due to new violence that broke out in West Bengal’s Hooghly district during Ram Navami.
Stone-pelting happened at Rishra station, according to a statement from Kaushik Miron, chief public relations officer for Easter Railway. In response to a stone-throwing incident at level crossing gate number 4 (spl) of Rishra (Shrirampur end), he said, “Train movements along the Howrah-Bandel main line section in both up and down direction had to be discontinued as of 22:06 hrs on 3.4.2023.
Disputes after Ram Navami
Violence broke out on Sunday in Hooghly during the BJP parade, when stones were also hurled, days after Ram Navami disturbances in West Bengal. Many were forced to flee for shelter and go for safety during the turmoil.
Conflict between two groups broke out last week when a Ram Navami procession passed through Kazipara in Howrah town. Abhishek Banerjee, a TMC politician and nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said the BJP and other right-wing organisations were responsible for the violence.
Suvendu Adhikari, a BJP state legislator, said in a tweet that “Rishra is burning” and that the whole state government is vacationing on the beach in Digha.
“Local and express train services on the Howrah-Bardhaman Line were forced to be suspended due to stone pelting and bombing at Rishra Railway Station. After RPF’s intervention, train services have finally been resumed. The whole State Government is on vacation at the beach in Digha as Rishra burns, he said.
Supreme Court motion
Meanwhile, a Hindu organisation filed a petition with the highest court asking for the filing of FIRs in connection with recent incidences of violence on Ram Navami in various areas of the nation.
The petition has asked the state governments to provide instructions on how to calculate the loss suffered by those who were hurt or died as a result of the violence. It has also asked for instructions to be given to the chief secretaries of the involved states to submit reports outlining the factors that contributed to mob assaults and violent crime.
