Prophet Row | Howrah
Prophet row: Internet suspended in Bengal's Howrah amid widespread tension as minorities protest
Kolkata/IBNS: The West Bengal government has suspended broadband and mobile internet services in Kolkata's adjacent Howrah district till Monday morning amid widespread protests staged by minorities over BJP leader Nupur Sharma's remark on Prophet Mohammed, officials said
Days after BJP leader (now suspended) Nupur Sharma's alleged offensive comments on Prophet Mohammed that triggered widespread criticism across the globe, minorities staged agitation across India.
In West Bengal, despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's request not to block roads, minorities have been staging demonstrations at multiple locations in Howrah and blocking roads as well as railway tracks.
The protesters also, reportedly, clashed with the police in some places.
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Earlier on Thursday, a large mob of the religious minority community had blocked Kolkata-Mumbai National Highway in Howrah's Ankurhati area for more than 10 hours, leaving the vehicular movement paralyzed.
Later in the evening, CM Mamata Banerjee appealed to them to withdraw the blockade and shared a video message from an Imam with them in this regard.
"I could have lifted their blockade with force, but I am not doing this as it is a sensitive issue," Banerjee said.
"I would request you to withdraw the blockade as thousands are suffering," she added.
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However, her call went in vain as protesters continued the blockade for a few more hours.
On Friday, reports of road and railway track blockades came from different areas of Howrah city and district.
In Dhulagarh, protesters clashed with police when cops went to lift their blockade.
The mob pelted stones aiming at cops and vandalized multiple vehicles, including a police van.
Police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the agitators.
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Meanwhile, train service in South Eastern Railway's Howrah-Kharagpur section was disrupted as a mob blocked railway tracks at three locations in Howrah for hours.
At least four express trains and dozens of local suburban trains were cancelled and a few long-distance trains were diverted because of this.
Meanwhile, a mob reportedly blocked a highway in Domjur's Salap area in Howrah and ransacked and torched multiple shops.
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Following this, the local administration decided to suspend internet services in the Howrah district till 6 am on Monday (June 13).
Officials in the state government said this step has been taken to prevent the spreading of rumours and messages triggering unlawful activities via the internet and voice-over-internet telephony.
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The internet suspension order also clarified that "no restriction is being imposed on voice calls and SMS and on newspapers."
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