West Bengal: Calcutta High Court Orders NIA Probe Into Ram Navami Violence

The High Court in Calcutta has directed the NIA to investigate the violent incidents that occurred during Ram Navami celebrations in West Bengal.

HC granted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's petition and transferred the investigation from West Bengal police to the anti-terror agency, reported NDTV.

The court ordered police to provide all records and CCTV footage to the central government within two weeks for NIA to investigate.

Last month, violent clashes between two groups during Ram Navami in Howrah's Shibpur led to arson, vandalism and destruction of shops, with several vehicles being set ablaze.

Afterwards, conflicts were reported in Rishra of Hooghly district and Dalkhola of Uttar Dinajpur district.

The tumultuous confrontations triggered a political dispute between the governing Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Each party circulated videos as proof, holding the other responsible for the aggression.

According to Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, the BJP had petitioned the HC to request an investigation by the central body NIA, in order to evade investigation in the state and "escape action".

"They know they will be caught if the probe happens here," he said.

Mamata Banerjee accused BJP of fueling communal tension during the procession, claiming they had hired out-of-state goons to orchestrate riots.

BJP dismissed allegations as "baseless", accused Banerjee's government of Muslim appeasement and Hindu targeting.

"Hindus in Bengal are under threat," said BJP MP Locket Chatterjee.