Ram Navami Violence: Calcutta High Court Directs State To Deploy Adequate Force In Affected Areas

The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the state government to deploy adequate police force in the affected areas where incidents of violence took place during the Ram Navami procession, so that peace and tranquillity prevails.

While hearing a PIL filed by Leader of Opposition in State Assembly and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, the division bench of the Acting Chief Justice T. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya observed:

“The respondent State shall ensure that the public in the area shall not in any manner affected by any incident of violence or arson and law and order shall be kept under control. The safety of the school going children and the businessmen should be sufficiently safeguarded.”

The petition filed by Adhikari has prayed for a probe by NIA and CBI into the incidents of violence in the state. The plea further prays for deployment of the Central Armed Forces in the violence-affected districts of Howrah and Uttar Dinajpur to prevent any untoward incident. 

The counsel appearing for Adhikari submitted that that even after the incidents of March 30, the situation is not under control in the affected areas. It was further submitted that the State had to suspend internet in the affected areas in Hooghly.

Justice Sivagnanam asked the Advocate General (AG) S. N. Mookherjee about the current situation. AG informed the court that the situation in Howrah and Dalkhola districts is under control.

“We have videos and we can submit with affidavit which can show the incidents,” Mookherjee said, adding that internet has been restored in Hooghly.

The State also told the court that cases have been registered and 36 persons have been arrested as far as Shivpuri area is concerned.

The court emphasised that the State could have been more careful before permitting the Ram Navami processions in areas which previously witnessed incidents of violence.

“If you have anticipated it, something could have been done earlier,” Justice Sivagnanam said. 

Alleging that there were violations of the permissions granted by the State, AG Mookherjee submitted that there were use of firearms in the processions and also deviation from the permitted route at one place.

The ACJ observed that if there was a similar incident of violence earlier, the State should have been more careful in granting permissions.

“Let a comprehensive report be filed by the State with regard to the alleged incidents, with a liberty to file CCTV and video footage at the next hearing date. Let the report be filed not later April 5, 2023,” said the court.

The matter is listed again on April 6.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Cal) 89