Ram Navami rally breaches police cordon in Howrah

KOLKATA/HOWRAH: Clashes broke out in Howrah's Shibpur during a Ram Navami procession on Thursday, prompting cops to fire tear gas shells and resort to lathi-charge to rein in rally members.
An irate chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, "Bulldozers were used during the procession. I consider rioters as enemies of the state." She added that action would also be taken against police officers who allowed the processions to change their original routes, which led to the trouble.
"Why did you change the route? Our cops are efficient but at times, they get scared. I will act against those officers who allowed the procession to divert from the scheduled route.
Police had clear instructions. Then why did they allow this to happen?" said Banerjee while ending her 31-hour Red Road dharna. She questioned the permission to hold a procession with bulldozers.
Ahead of the procession, several meetings had been held with police. But as a procession, led by Anjani Putra Sena and escorted by police, passed through PM Basti off GT Road in Howrah, a clash broke out.
The rally members alleged a bomb was hurled and glass bottles were thrown at them. The rally members reportedly set shops and vegetable trolleys ablaze. This prompted a large police force, including RAF, to swing into action. Several persons had been detained till last report came in.
The CM said, "I said we would not stop any Ram Navami procession. I had only requested they should ensure not to venture into Muslim-dominated areas as we have 33% Muslim population in Bengal."
Pointing out while they did not want to disturb people of any religion and respected people of all communities, she would not tolerate ill-doings if they committed a criminal offence in the name of religion. "I believe in only one region, the religion of development. I won't tolerate any criminal activity and won't excuse anyone doing so. I have a humane approach to life, but I am rough-and-tough against criminals."