Kolkata: Several police stations across West Bengal are on high alert to avert any communal tension ahead of Ram Navami celebrations in the state. The Hindu Jagran Manch will reportedly take out about 5,000 religious processions at ward or panchayat-level in all districts of the state. The organisation, affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has also planned big processions in Barasat, Siliguri and Kolkata’s Burrabazar.
Given past incidents of communal tensions during Ram Navami celebrations, district administrations in Hooghly, Howrah, Uttar Dakshin Dinajpur, Asansol, and Barrackpore are also on alert, according to the newspaper report. The police have issued strict warnings, stating that they will take decisive action against anyone found violating law and order during this period.
The public display of weapons during processions will not be permitted. Certain traditional groups and akharas have been granted permission for their processions, with authorities planning to closely monitor these events through videography.
In recent years, Ram Navami celebrations in West Bengal have become a contentious political issue, often resulting in significant political confrontations and even communal violence. Notably, the Calcutta High Court recently granted permission for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Anjani Putra Sena to conduct Ram Navami processions in Howrah on April 17, subject to specific conditions.
This decision came despite objections from the state government, which had proposed an alternative route for the processions. The Hindu Jagran Manch is expecting substantial participation in the Ram Navami processions, with lakhs of people anticipated to join. Subhajit Roy Manch, a member of the organization, expressed confidence in the police’s ability to maintain law and order during the festivities, urging people of all faiths to celebrate their festivals peacefully and without hindrance.
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