Asansol, known as the ‘city of brotherhood’, has been up in flames for the last five days.
On the day of Ram Navami (Sunday), the celebrations turned bitter as clashes started happening in different parts of Bengal, leaving five dead and several injured. Shops were burned down and markets were wrecked as a result of the clashes. The people of Asansol are now moving from one place to another in search of safety. They are panic-stricken and living in terror.
Imdadul Rashidi, the imam of a mosque in Asansol, whose 16-year-old son Sibtulla Rashidi died in the communal clashes, appealed for peace in a congregation. Sibtulla Rashidi went missing after communal clashes in the Railpar area on Tuesday. His body was found on Wednesday night and identified on Thursday.
After continued brutality and clashes, Section 144 was imposed in the region. Police and security forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), have also been deployed in order to maintain law and order in the region. After taking a look at the scenario, the Centre has also offered the assistance of paramilitary forces.
So far, 60 people have been arrested by the police forces. The authorities also suspended internet services to check the spread of rumours, and orders were imposed to maintain peace. The sub-divisional officer of Asansol, Proloy Roychowdhury, said that mobile telephone services would, however, be operational in the region.
There has been no fresh incident of violence, but still, the prohibitory orders are in force. Life started gaining normalcy again in the southern parts of Asansol as the shops and markets opened and vehicles started plying in these areas. Tension is still prevalent in the northern parts of the town, as mentioned by SDO P Roychowdhury.