Security was tightened after clashes broke out between two communities in the Mominpore area of Kolkata
A part of Kolkata where clashes broke out between two groups on Saturday and threatened to escalate is calm after a massive contingent of police were sent to keep the violence in check.
The groups belonging to different communities clashed in the Mominpur area of the Bengal capital allegedly over putting up flags to mark Milad-un-Nabi. The fight escalated and stones were allegedly thrown while houses were damaged.
Last night, there were some tense moments at the Ekbalpore Police Station in the district, with a large crowd surrounding the police. Security was tightened.
The BJP claims Hindus were attacked and the police didn't act because houses belonging to a certain community were being attacked. Police sources have denied the allegation; they said 38 people have been arrested, including BJP state President Sukanta Majumdar.
Speaking to reporters before his arrest, Mr Majumdar alleged: "The role of the police is deplorable. Just a few days ago, we all had seen how overtly proactive police were in trying to thwart BJP's march to Nabanna (the state secretariat). None of that was visible in containing the Mominpore violence. If Bengal Police are unable to bring the situation under control, we demand that the state administration seek help from central forces."
The BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in Bengal, said he had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bengal Governor La Ganeshan, demanding central forces in the area.
Reacting to Mr Majumdar's arrest, Mr Adhikari tweeted: "In order to sweep the shameful Mominpur violence under the rug, @MamataOfficial has ordered @KolkataPolice to arrest @BJP4Bengal President @DrSukantaBJP at Chingrighata on the way to Mominpur. Try as much as you can, but you can't stop BJP."
Sharing a visual from the violence, BJP leader Amit Malviya blamed the West Bengal government. "Under Mamata Banerjee as Home Minister, Kolkata has become completely unsafe, communal riots have become common," he tweeted.
The Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of trying to incite communal trouble in the state.
"The BJP is playing politics, it's the politics of vultures. Even citizens have controlled the situation on their own. The BJP is provoking by going there, trying to give some colour to it," said Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh. "All the police required, and the administration have brought it under control."