NEW DELHI: Communal clashes erupted in parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Ram Navami on Sunday, which coincides this year with the holy month of Ramazan, reports said.

They said in the BJP-ruled Gujarat, one person was killed after a clash broke out between two groups during a Ram Navami procession in Khambhat city.

Meanwhile, Section 144 was imposed in Khargone city in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh after incidents of arson and stone-pelting during a Ram Navami procession were reported.

Similar clashes occurred in parts of opposition-ruled Jharkhand and West Bengal as well.

Clashes erupt in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal on occasion of Ram Navami festival

In Khambhat, one person was killed and another injured in a clash during a Ram Navami procession. A few shops were set on fire as well. The police used tear gas to bring the situation under control.

“The body of an unidentified man, who appears to be around 65 years old, was recovered from the spot in Khambhat, where two groups pelted each other with stones after a clash broke out between them during a Ram Navami procession late this afternoon,” Superintendent of Police Ajeet Rajyan said. An investigation is under way.

In Himmatnagar, members of two communities clashed and vehicles and shops were damaged. “Two groups clashed and pelted each other with stones over a Ram Navami procession. During the melee, some persons were hit by stones. But the situation was brought under control in some time,” Vishal Vaghela, Sabar­kantha’s Super­intendent of Police, was quoted as saying.

In Khargone in Madhya Pradesh, stones were pelted allegedly at a Ram Navami procession, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to control the situation, Khargone Additional Collec­tor Sumer Singh Mujalde said.

The pelting of stones triggered arson and torching of some vehicles and houses, a senior official said. Three police personnel were among those injured in the clash. Following the incident, curfew was clamped in the entire Khargone city on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

A Ram Navami procession in West Bengal’s Howrah was allegedly attacked on Sunday. A police investigation into the incident has been initiated and a large deployment of security forces has been stationed.

In Jharkhand’s Bokaro, it has been alleged that some youngsters were on their way to join a Ram Navami procession on a bike when they got into a fight with a group and were attacked with stones by them. The police said the matter has been settled and peace restored.In Lohardaga, four people were injured and 10 motorcycles as well as a pick-up van burnt after a clash erupted during a Ram Navami procession.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2022