[Ram Navami violence] Deploy adequate police forces in violence-hit areas: Calcutta High Court to State

The Calcutta High Court on Monday said that the West Bengal government should have been more careful before permitting Ram Navami processions in areas which previously witnessed violence..A Bench of Acting Chief Justice T Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya asked the State to deploy adequate police forces in the affected regions so as to ensure there is no more violence. "See to it that you (State) deploy adequate police force in these areas and ensure that general public, the schools and shop owners etc aren't affected by the violence. You will have to safeguard them," ACJ Sivagnanam told Advocate General SN Mookherjee. .The Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by BJP's Suvendu Adhikari seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the violence that broke out during Ram Navami celebrations in Howrah and Dalkhola areas. .During the hearing, AG Mookherjee told the Bench that the situation in Howrah and Dalkhola districts is under control. However, counsel representing Adhikari informed the Court that internet is still suspended in these two districts and parts of the adjoining Hooghly area. On hearing this, ACJ Sivagnanam said, "Mr AG how can you say situation is under control when you have suspended internet? It (internet suspension) is done in extreme cases like we see in North Eastern States, where internet is suspended for some other grave reasons. Please file a report on this.".AG Mookherjee responded that internet has been restored in Hooghly. He submitted that he wished to show certain videos to the Court, indicating how weapons were brandished by those participating in the procession. "There were several violations of the permissions granted by the authorities. There was use of weapons, firearms. DJ was being played beyond permissible decibels. Also, in one case, there was a deviation from the permitted route. I will file an affidavit and also a report on this," the AG underscored. .Counsel representing Adhikari countered that there was no deviation from the route, and that the conditions on which permission was granted, were followed. He highlighted that some of the places where violence broke out on March 30 this year witnessed similar violence even last year..At this, the ACJ said,"If that is the case, then the State should have been more careful in permitting rallies in such places that witnessed violence even last year. And if there were violations of the permission, why didn't the Police stop the rally there and then?" AG Mookerjee, however, sought time to respond to the queries of the Bench and to file a complete report on the action taken in this issue. He pointed out that over 35 arrests have already been made. Meanwhile, the counsel for Adhikari pointed out that he had made representations to the Governor and also the Union Home Ministry to intervene into issue, and claimed that the State Police had miserably failed in controlling the situation. .The matter will be heard next on April 6. .Adhikari said in his plea that all necessary permissions had been taken from concerned authorities to conduct the marches, despite which communal tensions ensued.Although such attacks are a regular feature each year, this year, the same has crossed all limits with the police officials left helpless, Adhikari claimed.He thus sought the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces in the affected areas to ensure peace.