The West Bengal Police on Saturday (March 29, 2025) said an FIR has been lodged against two individuals allegedly attempting to incite communal strife, and that objectionable posters have been seized from Shyampur in Howrah.
Senior police officials said they are keeping a close watch on possible disruptions during upcoming festivals like Ram Navami and Eid-ul-Fitr and urged the people not to believe in rumours.
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“A case has been initiated at Howrah’s Shyampur police station on specific information against two individuals on very serious charges of planning and plotting to incite communal violence and communal tensions between two communities and various other religious groups,” Jawed Shamim, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), said on Saturday (March 29, 2025).
Supratim Sarkar, Additional Director General of Police (South Bengal), said that cases have been filed under sections 299 (malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 353 (1) and 353 (2) (acts that promote or attempt to promote disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will between different religions or communities on religious or other grounds), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), and 196(1) (promoting enmity between different groups) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
“We have received information from reliable sources that on and before Ram Navami and Eid, certain plans are being made to attack people’s religious sentiments and disrupt communal harmony,” Mr. Sarkar said. The ADG added that the police have discovered coordinated plans by certain people to put up posters and placards inciting hostility between people of different religious beliefs.
“Given two big festivals are upcoming, and considering the serious nature of the charges where incitement of violence between two communities through various means and methods is being attempted, it is imperative we stay sensitive and alert, and not engage with rumours and incitement,” Mr. Shamim added.
The police officers added that they are looking into whether this is an isolated incident or whether there is a broader pattern on similar issues.
“Eid is on coming Monday, March 31, and Ram Navami is on April 6. Incidents on Ram Navami spread through regions like Asansol over a few days. The next 10 days are very important in the Bengali religious calendar. Accordingly, we have issued an advisory to all police units and have alerted them,” Mr. Shamim added.
Meanwhile, there have been reports of clashes between two communities at Mothabari in the Malda district. Senior police officials said that 61 people have so far been arrested in connection to the reported clashes. Eighteen cases have been lodged in connection to the incident.
Clashes were reported at Mothabari on Thursday after a religious procession crossed a place of worship, leading to vandalism and clashes between people of two communities.
On Friday, a division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Smita Das De at the Calcutta High Court directed the district magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Malda to file an ‘action taken’ report on April 3, with regard to the steps taken.
On Saturday, police said a massive police force has been deployed in the Mothabari area, with senior police officials present at the spot. Normalcy has been restored in the area, police said.
Over the past few years, communal clashes have been reported at Ram Navami celebrations. This year, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has claimed that about one crore Hindus will hit the streets on Ram Navami.
Published – March 29, 2025 10:19 pm IST