West Bengal Police have taken action against BJP leaders for allegedly carrying weapons during a Ram Navami procession. Among those named in the case are Debashish Dhar, the BJP candidate for Birbhum Lok Sabha seat, and Dhruba Saha, the BJP district president, along with 11 others. They have been charged under various sections including Section 188 for anti-social activities, Section 34 for organized offenses, and Sections 25 and 27 of the Unlawful Arms Act.
BJP candidate Debashish Dhar said, “There was no procession with weapons. We have followed the directions of the Calcutta High Court. I worked in the police for a long time. It is wrong to think that I do not know the law.”
On Monday (April 15), Justice Jay Sengupta of the single bench of the Calcutta High Court gave conditional permission for the Ram Navami procession. The Justice had set several conditions, including not using weapons and DJs in the procession. But on Wednesday (April 17), Hindutva organizations took out Ram Navami processions with arms in different parts of the state in defiance of the High Court order. Violence and tension spread in some places centering the procession.
Meanwhile, Rampurhat police lodged an FIR against BJP leaders and workers for allegedly carrying swords during a Ram Navami procession in Rampurhat on Wednesday afternoon.
BJP district president Dhruba Saha said that he did not take out a procession with weapons. He stated, “We had symbolic weapons. I don’t see anything wrong with that. In Indian culture, every deity has a weapon in its hand.” The BJP district president also alleged that the police were acting under pressure from the TMC. “If the law thinks we have done wrong, take action. The court is open for us,” he added.
