Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata, April 4: Fresh violence broke out in Rishra, West Bengal after Hooghly clashes. According to the Railways, last night’s stone-throwing at a level crossing in Rishra resulted in the suspension of train service on the Howrah-Bandel route for almost three hours. After midnight, train traffic resumed. Railways reported that many long-distance trains were delayed.
The community was tense this morning. Once police enacted prohibitory orders, the majority of stores remained closed and most people remained inside. According to a senior official, marches were also held in Rishra and the neighbouring Serampore by police and riot control officers.
As the police work to put a stop to rumours, internet services are still halted. A stage that had been built up in Serampore for a protest by state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar was also taken down by the state police, who did so in reference to the law and order situation.
According to sources, West Bengal Governor Dr. CV Ananda Bose visited the Hooghly district communities of Rishra and Serampur on Tuesday after hastily returning from Darjeeling.
“There will be solid action on part of all enforcement agencies. We will never allow miscreants to take law in hand, police will come down heavily on them. Bengal has been suffering for long time, we’ll put a final end to it,” said WB Governor in Rishra.
Due to conflicts in Rishra, train travel was also halted for almost three hours in the Howrah-Bandel sector.
“Train movements over the Howrah-Bandel mainline section in both up and down directions had to be suspended from 22:06 hrs of 3.4.2023 given a stone-throwing incident near level crossing gate no. 4 (spl) of Rishra (ShriRampur end),” said CPRO, Eastern Railway, Kausik Mitra.
According to ANI reports, some local trains and long-distance trains experienced significant delays while travelling.
A further instance of stone-throwing was recorded earlier on Monday evening in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, prompting the suspension of all local and mail express train services running to and from Rishra Railway Station by the railways.
“For the security of common people, all local and mail express train services have been suspended on Howrah-Bardhaman Main Line,” added Mitra.
When racial tensions flared up during Ram Navami demonstrations, Hooghly and Howrah, two districts close to Kolkata, have been on fire. During a fight between two parties in Howrah on Thursday, a number of vehicles were set on fire. Police had to fire tear gas shells to contain the scene after public property was vandalised. On Sunday, there was more unrest in Hooghly.
The BJP and the Trinamool, which are in power, are engaged in a political brawl as a result of the violent incidents. Abhishek Banerjee, the general secretary of Trinamool, has charged the BJP with orchestrating the violence for political purposes.
