A large contingent of police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed and markets remained closed on Thursday as tension prevailed in the area.
The clash involving stone pelting took place between 10 pm and midnight near the Howrah railway station during a rally by members of the minority community.
Howrah Police Commissioner Praveen Tripathi said they are investigating the matter and a case of rioting has been initiated into the incident. However, no arrest has been made in this connection yet, the police said, adding that people from both sides pelted each other with stones.
According to the police, some members of a community took out a rally from Tikiapara to Fasitala. But in Belilious Road, slogans were raised by both sides and led to the clash.
All lanes and bylanes were heavily guarded by the police and barricades were put up at various places to restrict the movement of vehicles.
Sunil Sharma, a local resident, said, “Members of a community took out a religious procession from Tikiapara in Belilious Road. They wanted to go to Gorabazar area where a religious event took place two days back. However, the police stopped them at Vishti Para area and did not allow them to move in that direction. But some people from the rally went to the Gorabazar area and started pelting stones. Soon members of another community also pelted stones at them.”
The police personnel, who were few in number, were overpowered by members of both groups as stone pelting intensified. “Even some policemen were hit with stones. The stone pelting continued for one and a half hours. Some shops and a few e-rickshaws were damaged. Later, more police came and fired tear-gas shells to disperse the mob,” said another resident.
Union Minister Smirti Irani, who was in Kolkata, said, “Stones were pelted in Howrah yesterday. Goons who are sheltered by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress tried to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere there. The police didn’t reach the spot where stone pelting was going on. But they appeared and stopped the live-streaming (in Kolkata) when the PM was addressing youth voters. INDIA alliance leaders’ disrespect towards Sanatan Dharam and Lord Ram is evident.”
The Union Minister also slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for holding all-faith harmony rally on January 22 to appease a particular community.
Hitting back at Irani, state minister Shashi Panja said, “The BJP always gives speeches to stoke communal tension and to create a division between religions. This does not happen in Bengal. On January 22, our party supremo Mamata Banerjee led a rally and said all religions are equal. The BJP’s communal game will not be allowed in Bengal.”
Accusing the ruling TMC of instigating violence, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the state police turned into a mute spectator when the clash broke out. “When the incident was taking place and turning violent with both sides pelting stones at each other, the police took no action. No arrest was made. The violence was instigated by a local TMC leader who asked his party workers to pull down all hoardings and posters of the BJP in the area. There was a resistance from the local people against an act of hooliganism,” said Bhattacharya.
Appealing to the people to maintain peace in the area, state minister and senior TMC leader Arup Roy said, “The police acted promptly and brought the situation under control. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed so that no fresh violence takes place,” said Roy.