Hate remarks against Prophet lead to fresh protests in West Bengal
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Birbhum, West Bengal: Locals in Birbhum on Monday staged a protest against the controversial remarks by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
As per visuals, hundreds gathered to join the protest march.
Meanwhile, violence erupted in certain pockets of Howrah district on Saturday as agitators staged demonstrations.
The tension broke out in the minority-dominated Panchal area after protesters attacked and ransacked a local club there. When the police tried to disperse them, the agitators pelted stones at the cops. The police had to resort to lathi-charge and fire teargas shells to disperse the mob.
Tension also prevailed in the minority-dominated Domjur area, where the police station was attacked late Friday evening.
As per reports, a mob has also vandalized a local train in West Bengal on Monday evening during a protest against Nupur Sharma's controversial remarks. A railway official said a group of around 1,000 people threw stones at the Lalgola-Ranaghattrain local train at Bethuadahari railway station in Nadia district.
"An unruly mob of 1,000 people pelted stones on the train. Few people were injured. As of now, no train is running there, we are waiting for state govt's permission," Eklavya Chakraborty, Chief Public Relations Officer, Eastern Railway was quoted by news agency ANI.
The railway police and other police personnel have been deployed to the area to bring the situation under control.
Various states including Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh have been witnessing protests ever since the suspended BJP spokesperson's controversial remarks sparked a row.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday asked the police heads of states and Union Territories to be prepared and alert as they will be on target.
On Friday, MHA issued a statement to all state and Union Territory police after several incidents of violence.
A senior MHA official informed that they sent alerts to all state and Union Territory police to remain vigilant as they can be targeted during the violence.