Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called the clashes over the Hindu festival Ram Navami in two districts of her state criminal violence slamming the prime opposition camp Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing an administrative meeting in Digha, Mamata said, The clashes which broke out were not riots but criminal violence. It was a violence by the criminals.
All outside people and no locals were involved in the violence. We have shown how one was displaying his gun during Ram Navami, said the Chief Minister slamming the BJP which carried out Ram Navami processions.
Howrah and Hooghly, the two neighbouring districts of Kolkata, were on the boil over the Ram Navami processions carried by the BJP.
Two groups clashed, several vehicles were set on fire and public properties destroyed in Howrah last Thursday.
Violence broke out in Hooghly on Sunday over the procession. BJP MLA Biman Ghosh was among the injured.
A day after a clash over Ram Navami procession, violence broke out at Rishra in West Bengals Hooghly district last night, media reports said.
Railway properties were targeted and train services were affected, reports said.
The train services resumed post midnight.
Section 144 has been imposed and internet connection has been snapped in the area.
West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari accused the governing Trinamool Congress of using riots to consolidate the minority votes post the partys defeat in Muslim-dominated Sagardighi bypoll.
