Police on alert in Bengal, Bihar ahead of Hanuman Jayanti

Police were on high alert in Bihar and West Bengal ahead of Hanuman Jayanti on Thursday after facing flak over a series of communal clashes during Ram Navami celebrations that triggered a blame game between the ruling parties of the two states and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

Hindu groups were expected to take out processions on Hanuman Jayanti. Communal violence was reported in places like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations last year. The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday sought a report from the West Bengal government on the Ram Navami clashes, a day after fresh violence disrupted local train services in Rishra town of Hooghly district.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday appealed for calm and accused the BJP of fueling the violence, even as Governor CV Ananda Bose cut short his visit to Darjeeling to visit the violence-hit areas of Hoogly district. Violence first erupted in Bengal's Howrah district on March 30 when stones were allegedly thrown at a Ram Navami procession. The violence spread to North Dinajpur and Hooghly districts over the next three days, prompting the Calcutta High Court to seek a report.

Banerjee accused the BJP of bringing hired goons from outside the state to incite violence following the arrest of Sumit Sau from Munger in Bihar after he was allegedly seen in videos of Ram Navami processions with firearms. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused Banerjee of playing divisive politics to save her seat and divert attention from unemployment and corruption.

Banerjee on Monday warned of communal violence during Hanuman Jayanti processions similar to those during Ram Navami processions in Howrah and Hooghly and asked the police to be on high alert.

A person briefed on the matter said West Bengal police chief Manoj Malaviya met top officers on Monday and asked them to be ready. "Though no decision has been taken to stop any organization from holding rallies during Hanuman Jayanti, all district police units have been asked to prepare anti-riot arrangements," the person said.

A police officer in Bihar said there was no tradition of holding processions on Hanuman Jayanti in the state and no one had sought permission to organize any related event. "In any case, the police are on standby."