PROPHET ROW : GUNDAGIRI OF PROTESTERS; VANDALISED TRAINS, LOOTED SHOPS

Kolkata (The Quiver)On Sunday,Protesters pelted stones and damaged a local train in Bethuadahari railway station in Nadia district of West Bengal , during a protest march which was taken out by locals against suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s comment on Prophet Muhammad.

Some protesters rushed into the railway station and vandalised a train .Following the incident, train services have been halted on that route.

According to sources in the police, hundreds of people blocked National Highway 34 on Sunday as they protested against Nupur Sharma. When the police lathi-charged the crowd, some people reached Bethuadahari railway station and started pelting stones on a train parked there. As soon as the security force reached the railway station, the miscreants fled to the Bethua Dahri Hospital area and started vandalising some shops there. The police again lathi-charged everyone and chased them away. Due to this misconduct made by the protesters ,the national highway and rail services were completely affected for about an hour.

A passenger narrating the incident said, “When the train was entering the station, it was around 0.5 km away, we saw the place teeming with people. Couldn’t figure out why. Then we heard some noise. We saw a mob throwing bricks. The driver didn’t slow down. I was onboard the Hazaduari express which was attacked. The driver was attacked with sticks and stones. They even did something to the overhead electric wires, which then stopped functioning. We were stranded outside the Bethuadahari station for around 45 minutes.” “We were scared. The police and RPF teams came and asked us to shut all doors and windows. Then the train began moving,” he added.

Similar fresh incidents of violence were also reported in Murshidabad’s Shaktipur this evening over remark on Prophet Muhammad by Nupur Sharma. The protesters allegedly ransacked and looted some shops and houses in Shaktipur too.

Inorder to bring the situation under control,a large number of police rushed to the spot. Police started lathicharge and hurling tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in Beldanga police area of Murshidabad district , viewing violence that erupted in many parts of the district on Sunday. The officials said that considering the tense situation, Section 144 will be imposed till 12 am on June 15.

“West Bengal Police has arrested more than 100 persons in specific criminal cases registered under stringent sections of law for road blockade, rioting, arson damage to public property and spreading communal hatred. Nobody who indulges in any of these crimes will be spared,” the WB Police tweeted on Sunday.

The police added, “West Bengal police is committed to uphold the spirit of law and constitution without fear or favour. It is advised to all to refrain from indulging in rumour mongering spreading false narratives, videos, photographs etc. that may incite communal riots.”