West Bengal's communal cauldron: Oppn barred from entering Dhulagarh

While prohibitory orders were imposed in the area, police told IBNS the situation was under control now. Many Hindu families reportedly left the village after the violence as their houses were burnt down and looted, alleged local people.

On Tuesday, a team of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was prevented by the police force from entering the scene, report said. So was Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury earlier.

According to reports, a BJP delegation went to the spot to take a stock of violence hit Dhulagarh's situation.

Setting up barricades, police stopped the BJP leaders, few kilometers away from the actuation location, and engaged in a scuffle with them.

Amid the encounter with the cops, the BJP delegation left the place without visiting the village. 

BJP MLA Manoj Tigga, who was with the delegation, said, "Since last year, several communal clashes were reported from entire Bengal and the recent clashes in Howrah's Dhulagarh and Birbhum district's Mallarpur were very shameful for the state, which is well known for its communal harmony."

"Mamata Banerjee's appeasement politics, aiming minority vote bank, was responsible for such violence and after both incidents in Dhulagarh and Mallarpur, TMC supremo did not say a single word on this," Tigga further said, demanding Chief Minister's reaction and a strict action against such riots.

Earlier on Monday, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury tried to witness the present situation of violence hit areas, but was stopped midway by the police.

After being prevented from entering Dhulagarh, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "This is not the first time, such violence took place at Dhulagarh and if the administration does not take strictest action against it, such clashes could spread to other parts of Bengal."

"We are demanding an immediate step from the government and administration to restore peace at the area," Chowdhury added.

Meanwhile, hitting back the BJP on this issue, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP and party's national spokesperson Derek O'Brien tweeted: "Communal  friend (from Panama!!), your party again trying divisive stunts in Bengal. People here will always reject your communal politics."

However, police officials claimed that the situation had been brought under control after a heavy police force deployment at the area.

SP of Howrah (Rural), Sabyasachi Raman Mishra, told IBNS, "The situation at Dhulagarh has been completely brought under control and a heavy police force are on standby there to avoid further untoward incident."

"As CrPC section 144 has been imposed at the village since the incident took place, leaders of political parties or a group of people can't be allowed inside the area," Mishra added.

Earlier on Dec 12, people of two communities were engaged in a clash with each other at Dhulagarh over a religious procession to mark the birth anniversary of Holy Prophet.

During the clash, few crude bombs were allegedly hurled by one community, several houses, shops and a temple were reportedly vandalized, locals were looted and motorcycles, cycles and few homes were set on fire.

According to locals, several people were injured after being beaten up by the attackers.

The violence lasted for two more days at the area, which triggered tension at the village, locals alleged.

A heavy police force along with Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed in the area, CrPC section 144 was imposed and few police pickets were set up at the village to control the situation.

Police have booked at least 50 people so far from the area for allegedly creating violence, while all types of movements have been restricted there to maintain law and order, according to reports.

Earlier this year in January,  almost unprecedented riots broke out in Kaliachak in Malda district of West Bengal, when a protest rally by Muslims turned violent. 

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)