Ram Navami violence: Heavy police force deployed in Raniganj, BJP MP Babul Supriyo alleges police inaction

Peace has been restored with additional police forces patrolling the Bardhaman West district area, District Magistrate Shashanka Shetty said on Tuesday.

Police force flag march at clash hit Ranigunj area at Burdwan district of West Bengal on March 27, 2018

Raniganj: Heavy police force was deployed on Tuesday in the Raniganj area of West Bengal, a day after clashes broke out between two groups over a Ram Navami procession.

Peace has been restored with additional police forces patrolling the Bardhaman West district area, District Magistrate Shashanka Shetty said.

"We have received reports that one person was killed in Monday's incident. Senior police officers who are camping here in the aftermath of the violence are monitoring the situation very closely," he added, as per PTI.

Meanwhile, Union minister Babul Supriyo on Tuesday alleged that police inaction was the reason behind the violence in Raniganj and demanded immediate deployment of central forces in the area.

Supriyo said he had called Home Minister Rajnath Singh and requested him to look into the matter.

"The violence in Raniganj took place because of police inaction in the area. Had the police acted earlier, the violence could have been averted. The police acted on behalf of their political masters and allowed the goons to have a free run in the area," the MP from Asansol told reporters in Kolkata.

Families that had to flee their residences due to Riot like situations in RANIGUNJ, Asansol BJP karyakartas trying assist and stand by them•These are the true pictures of Asansol/Ranigunj where ‘Deployment of Adequate Police’ as claimed by Govt of WB is a complete hogwash pic.twitter.com/ItuiADPqo3 — Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) March 27, 2018

Appraised Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. @narendramodi ji abt the on-ongoing situation in Ranigunj yesterday/today & now in Asansol• I wud request residents of Asansol 2 plz send me videos of the incidents on 89676 67287•Hide ur faces&send info abt exact places•DO NOT POST ON FB — Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) March 27, 2018

Spoke 2 Shri. @rajnathsingh ji twice in the last hour&though I wudnt disclose what exactly we spoke abt cuz I do not wish 2 name the WB Govt officials who blatantly LIED 2 him abt the grave ground situation in Asansol, I AM doing my Constitutional duty 2 the bestest of my ability — Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) March 27, 2018

A BJP delegation on Tuesday met West Bengal Governor KN Tripathi and complained about the clash in Raniganj on Monday. Supriyo said the state government should initiate action to deploy central forces in Raniganj to control the situation as the locals did not have faith in the police administration.

On the other hand, State Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak said that the situation had been largely brought under control by the police.

(With PTI inputs)