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Debjit Mukherjee, Kolkata: Communal tension was sparked in south-west Kolkata after a clash broke out between two communities at Mominpur near Shyama Parasad Mukherjee Port, police said on Monday.
The clash broke out when the celebrations of the Eid Milad-un-Nabi, which marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed, were going on late on Saturday. It, however, flared up on Sunday when the Lakshmi Puja was being celebrated.
Several persons were injured, vehicles were damaged, houses were ransacked and some shops were torched. A mob also ransacked the Ekbalpore police station on Sunday. Police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the mob. Section 144 of the CrPc has been imposed in Ekbalpore area for three days till September 12.
“At least 38 persons were arrested. Raids are still going on and large police contingents including RAF personnel have been deployed to bring situations under control. Section 144 of the CrPc has been imposed in the area. Some persons, including two senior police officers, have been injured in the clash,” said a senior police officer.
Following the violence, Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, sent letters to the Union home minister Amit Shah and West Bengal governor La Ganeshan on Monday seeking deployment of central forces in the riot-hit areas.
