NEW DELHI: Ensure Law and order said, MHA on Wednesday issuing an advisory to all states and union territories (UTs) over preparation for Hanuman Jayanti. The [state] governments are encouraged to ensure the maintenance of law and order, peaceful observance of the festival, and monitoring of any factors that could disturb communal harmony in society, MHA said.

The advisory stemmed from the recent violence that erupted in parts of West Bengal on the occasion of Ram Navami.

In violence-hit parts of West Bengal, the Calcutta court earlier in the day ordered the state government to seek central forces for Hanuman Jayanti amid unrest in parts of the state since Ram Navami.

“The state government should give requisition to the Centre for the deployment of central forces to conduct Hanuman Jayanti. No Hanuman Jayanti in areas where Section 144 is imposed,” directed Calcutta HC.

Clashes broke out between two groups during festivities on March 30. Several vehicles were torched, and shops ransacked in the area, police said. Dozens of people have been arrested in connection with the violence in Howrah.