West Bengal: Tension grips Kolkata’s Rajabazar after road blocked for Namaz
West Bengal: Tension grips Kolkata’s Rajabazar after road blocked for Namaz
M.U.H
15/05/202629
Tension prevailed in Kolkata’s Rajabazar area during Friday prayers after a dispute allegedly erupted over offering namaz on a public road. This led to heavy commotion in the locality, while a large police contingent was deployed as the situation further escalated.
According to sources, police resorted to a lathi-charge after attempts were allegedly made to block the road during Friday prayers, despite restrictions imposed by the administration. Protesters were also seen raising slogans against the state government, claiming that prayers on roads had been a long-standing practice in the area.
Police personnel remained deployed across the locality in large numbers to prevent any further deterioration of law and order and to restore normalcy.
The Suvendu Adhikari-led government has reportedly adopted a strict stance against road blockades for religious gatherings – a departure from the previous Mamata Banerjee-led administration when such practices were allegedly permitted in several parts of the state.
Earlier, BJP leader Arjun Singh had said that the Chief Minister had issued clear directions during a Cabinet meeting that Namaz would not be allowed on public roads. “People can offer prayers inside mosques, but prayers on streets will not be tolerated,” Singh had stated, adding that public prayers on Kolkata’s Red Road would also no longer be permitted.
