West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi today met the victims of the riot-hit areas of Asansol and Raniganj and appealed for peace, saying people from all religions should respect each other's festivals.
One person was killed and two police officers suffered serious injuries on Monday when clashes broke out between two groups over a Ram Navami procession in the Raniganj area of Bardhaman West district.
The violence spread to areas in Asansol, prompting the police to suspend Internet services and clamp prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the trouble-torn areas of the district.
The governor, who reached Asansol today morning, held a meeting with senior police and administration officials and took stock of the situation.
Later, he visited some of the affected areas of Raniganj and Asansol and spoke to the local people. He also visited the shops that were gutted during the violence.
"Peace should be paramount. I have come here with the message of peace and brotherhood. Everybody should live in peace and respect each other. There should not be any recurrence of such incidents. Everybody should respect each other's religious festivals," Tripathi told reporters after visiting the areas.
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He, however, expressed his inability to visit all the affected areas.
Senior Trinamool Congress leader and state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee, however, questioned the governor "visiting only selected areas".
"People will question the governor about his visit to selected areas. We all know that BJP leaders are meeting him," he said.
Chatterjee said the Mamata Banerjee government has efficiently tackled the situation. He accused the BJP of fomenting communal riots in the state.
Tripathi met the district magistrate, the police commissioner of Asansol-Durgapur and the inspector general of police (western range) earlier in the day and inquired about the present situation.
Asked if he was happy with the steps taken by the police and the administration to tackle the situation, Tripathi said, "Whatever I have to say I will say it to the state government. I don't want to discuss it here."
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