Ram Navami celebrations in Bengal have become a political battleground in recent years with rallies escalating into major political face-offs and communal riots.
Ahead of the state’s Ram Navami celebrations, has reported that a number of police stations in West Bengal are on high alert in an effort to prevent any communal unrest. In all of the state’s districts, the Hindu Jagran Manch is said to organize over 5,000 religious processions at the ward or panchayat level. The group, which is connected to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has also organized large-scale processions in Burrabazar, Kolkata, and Barasat, Siliguri.
The publication said that the district administrations of Hooghly, Howrah, Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur, Asansol, and Barrackpore—which have previously seen intercommunal strife during the Ram Navami celebration—are also on guard.
According to the authorities, anyone caught disobeying the legislation would face harsh consequences.
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“Wagons will not be displayed in public during processions on this festive occasion,” an unnamed police official “Permission has been granted to a few akharas and traditional groupings. Their processions will also be captured on camera.
In recent years, Ram Navami celebrations have evolved into a political battleground, with protests turning into large-scale political confrontations and even intercommunal riots.
On March 30 of last year, clashes broke out in Howrah and eventually extended to North Dinajpur and Hooghly, two more districts. There were ten injuries.
