West Bengal: Police-religious group clash in Birbhum over Hanuman Jayanti rally

According to reports, activists of Hindu Jagran Mancha at a large number took part in a procession to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti (A Hindu ritual/festival, celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Sri Hanuman) at Suri in Birbhum.

As local administration did not give permission to hold the rally, police stopped the march by setting up barricades near Suri Bus Stand area.

After breaking police barricades, activists of the Hindu organization engaged in a scuffle with the policemen there and beat two civic volunteers, who were assigned to film the rally, as a senior police official claimed.

A heavy police force along with Rapid Action Force (RAF) rushed to the scene and police restored to lathicharge to bring the situation under control.

A local leader of Hindu Jagran Mancha alleged that a large number of activists of the religious group were injured in the 'unprovoked' lathicharge by police force while several members of the organization have been arrested.

Since last Wednesday (Apr 5), right wing organization and the ideological mentor of BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and its sister organizations have been holding several religious processions to celebrate Ram Navami (A spring Hindu festival that celebrates the birthday of god Rama) across West Bengal.

As swords and some other sharp weapons were allegedly carried publicly in few of those rallies, police have lodged FIRs against the organizers at several police stations in the state.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha, Image: TV Grab.)