Raiganj (West Bengal): The West Bengal police on Sunday arrested around 300 Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) after its chief Praveen Togadia was banned from entering the state.
According to reports, the activists were marching towards a `Dharm Sammelan` meeting at the Raiganj Merchant Club field to commemorate the VHP`s golden jubilee celebrations, when the police detained them.
The West Bengal government had deployed units of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the state police at the venue, anticipating a law and order problem.
Earlier on Wednesday, the West Bengal government`s Home Ministry had banned the entry of Togadia into the state, stating that the VHP chief`s entry may lead to communal tension and `disturbance of public tranquillity`.
According to reports, the VHP had later filed a writ petition in the Calcutta High Court challenging the prohibitory order government against Togadia. Togadia eventually cancelled his visit to the state and alleged that West Bengal government`s ban on his entry was more due to political reasons rather than administrative reasons.
