Violence in Howrah over display of 'objectionable photo' during Durga Puja, 30 arrested

Prohibitory orders were imposed and Rapid Action Forces pressed into service to control the situation. (Representational Image, ANI)

Violence broke out in Howrah district of West Bengal over a drawing competition and photo display during a Durga Puja celebration on Sunday. According to the police, it received a complaint regarding an objectionable photo displayed during a drawing competition and subsequently filed a case and arrested a few people.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed and prohibitory orders imposed following incidents of violence and vandalism of Durga Puja pandals in the district, Swati Bhangalia, Superintendent of Police, Howrah, said.

“Unrest broke out during a Durga Puja celebration over a photo in the Howrah district. The community objected to the photo and they came to the police station to submit a deputation. The deputation was received and a complaint was taken. Accordingly, a case was filed and arrests were also made. However, a section of them attacked the police, who retaliated and made more arrests,” Bhangalia said.

The official said that information was received regarding vandalism of some puja pandals. We immediately sent force and the situation was brought under control. So far, 25 to 30 people have been arrested. We are patrolling in the area and have also imposed Section 144 in the area,” said the Howrah SP.

BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari also raised the issue of "unruly vandals" and urged the police and daministration to take strict action against the guilty.

"Today a group of miscreants while returning from the Shyampur Police Station where they went to submit a deputation, went berserk and started vandalising the Durga Puja Pandals. I would like to urge the DG @WBPolice to send adequate forces immediately at the spot to quell the vandalism and take action against the unruly vandals. Secretary @HomeBengal, you must monitor the whole situation till normalcy is restored.DM @HowrahDistrict & SP @RuralHowrah please take all steps necessary…," the BJP leader posted on X.

Another BJP leader Amit Malviya also raised the issue and claimed that the situation had grown increasingly tense in Howrah.

“West Bengal is burning, again. A group of criminal thugs, after submitting a deputation at Shyampur Police Station, unleashed chaos in the Shyampur area. These anti-social individuals engaged in blatant vandalism, targeting Durga Puja pandals in the locality… The situation has grown increasingly tense in areas under the Shyampur Police Station, which comes under the Howrah Rural Police District. This is a heinous act of violence and an assault on our traditions and the peaceful observance of Durga Puja,” Malviya said in a post on X.