Ram Navami Violence: Calcutta HC Orders State To Use Sufficient Force In Affected Regions

The Calcutta High Court has recently ordered the state government to deploy a sufficient police force in the affected areas where incidents of violence occurred during the Ram Navami procession, in order to restore peace and tranquility.

The division bench of Acting Chief Justice T. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya observed while hearing a PIL filed by Leader of Opposition in State Assembly and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, “The respondent State shall ensure that the public in the area shall not be in any way affected by any incident of violence or arson and law and order shall be kept under control. The safety of schoolchildren and businesses should be adequately protected.”

The plea filed by Adhikari requested that the NIA and CBI investigate instances of violence in the state. The petition also requests that the Central Armed Forces (CAF) be deployed in the violent districts of Howrah and Uttar Dinajpur to avoid any untoward incidents.

Adhikari’s counsel argued that even after the March 30 incidents, the situation in the affected regions is still out of control. It was also suggested that the state suspend internet access in the affected regions of Hooghly.

Justice Sivagnanam enquired about the present situation with Advocate General (AG) S. N. Mookherjee. The AG told the court that the situation in the districts of Howrah and Dalkhola is under control.

“We have videos that we can submit with an affidavit that shows the incidents,” Mookherjee stated, adding that internet access in Hooghly has been restored.

In addition, the State informed the court that cases had been filed and 36 people had been arrested in the Shivpuri area.

The court highlighted that the State should have been more cautious before allowing Ram Navami processions in places where there had previously been incidents of violence.

“If you had anticipated it, you could have done something sooner,” Justice Sivagnanam stated.

AG Mookherjee claimed that there were violations of the State’s permissions, including the use of firearms in the processions and a deviation from the permitted route in one location.

The ACJ stated that if there had been a similar incident of violence earlier, the State should have been more cautious in giving permissions.

“Let the State file a comprehensive report on the alleged incidents, with the right to file CCTV and video footage at the next hearing date. Let the report be filed no later than April 5, 2023,” the court stated.

The matter is listed for further consideration on April 6, 2023.