'Stone pelting' at Ram Navami procession injures four in Bengal; Mamata blames BJP for instigating violence

Kolkata: At least four persons were injured in an alleged incident of stone pelting at a Ram Navami procession in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipore district, police said on Thursday.

Four persons have been detained for their involvement in the incident that took place around 9.10 pm on Wednesday when the procession was passing through College More in Egra, a senior police officer said.

Police had to lathicharge to disperse the gathering, he said.

Mamata cries foulplay by BJP

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that the BJP instigated violence during Ram Navami celebrations in the state.

She claimed that the violence in Murshidabad district was "pre-planned" and accused the saffron party of orchestrating it ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

A blast happened near a procession in Murshidabad's Shaktipur area on Wednesday, injuring a woman, police said.

"Everything was pre-planned. The DIG of Murshidabad was removed a day ahead of Ram Navami so that you (the BJP) can carry out violence," she said at an election rally in the Raiganj Lok Sabha constituency.

The chief minister also claimed that goons associated with the BJP roughed up police personnel in the district.

The BJP, meanwhile, alleged that stones were pelted at a Ram Navami procession in Rejinagar area of the district.

'Under Investigation'

"Security has been tightened in the area. We are investigating the incident. Four persons have been detained, and the situation is under control now," the officer told PTI.

BJP leader and its candidate from Medinipore, Agnimitra Paul, along with party workers, staged a demonstration against the alleged stone pelting incident by putting up a road blockade.

"Hindu brothers & sisters in Ram Navami rally got attacked by Jihadis in EGRA tonight, but those who attacked got spared but the ones who were attacked got arrested by EGRA PS. Entire night the BJP karyakartas protested," she posted on X.