Local, mail and express train services had been suspended following the violence
Hours after a fresh round of violence hit West Bengal's Rishra town, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said these were not communal clashes, but criminal acts by goons allegedly hired by the BJP.
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"Violence is not Bengal's culture. BJP has brought in hired 'goondas' from outside. This is not communal violence, this is criminal violence. You saw the video of this young man, dancing with a firearm," she said at an event in Khejuri in Purba Medinipur district.
Earlier, Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose visited Rishra in Hooghly district and assured strict action against those involved in the violence. The Governor was in Darjeeling for a G20 meeting, but cut short his trip and rushed to Rishra.
"There will be solid action by all enforcement agencies. We will never allow miscreants to take law in hand, police will come down heavily on them. Bengal has been suffering for a long time, we will put an end to it," the Governor said.
Stone-pelting near a level crossing in Rishra last night led to suspension of train services on the Howrah-Bandel section for about 3 hours last night, Railways said. The movement of trains resumed post midnight.
This morning, tension gripped the town. Most shops remained closed and people stayed indoors after police clamped prohibitory orders. Police and riot control personnel also conducted marches in Rishra and adjoining Serampore, a senior officer said.
Internet remains suspended as police try to quell rumours. The state police also dismantled a stage set up for a protest by state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar in Serampore, citing law and order situation.
The districts of Hooghly and Howrah near Kolkata have been on the boil after clashes broke out during Ram Navami rallies. Several vehicles were set on fire on Thursday after two groups clashed in Howrah. Public property was vandalised and police had to use tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. Another round of violence erupted in Hooghly Sunday.
The violent clashes have sparked a political slugfest between the ruling Trinamool and the BJP. Trinamool's general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has accused the BJP of engineering the violence for political gains.
A 19-year-old man has been arrested from Bihar's Munger on the basis of a video shared by Mr Banerjee, also Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew. Sumit Shaw was seen with a gun in the video.
The BJP has alleged that the video posted by Mr Banerjee is not from the Howrah rally that was organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The party has accused the Trinamool leader of maligning Hindus and demanded a probe against him. NDTV cannot verify the authenticity of the videos.
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