Tension gripped Asansol on Tuesday night following the alleged vandalism of idols at a centuries-old temple in the Kalipahari area. The incident triggered protests led by BJP leaders Agnimitra Paul and Krishnendu Mukherjee, who staged a demonstration in front of the Asansol South Police Station demanding immediate action against those responsible.
BJP leaders and party workers also held a sit-in protest on GT Road, where the situation soon turned volatile. Protesters blocked the road by burning tyres, bringing traffic to a standstill and creating chaos in the area. When police attempted to clear the blockade, heated arguments broke out between officers and demonstrators, further escalating tensions.
The unrest follows an incident earlier in the day at an approximately 200-year-old temple in Kalipahari, under Ward No. 38 of the Asansol Municipal Corporation. According to local sources, regular prayer rituals were conducted in the morning, but when the priest returned in the afternoon, he discovered that several idols inside the temple had been vandalised. It is suspected that miscreants carried out the act during the afternoon hours.
Residents alleged that the incident may have been an attempt to disturb communal harmony in the region. They have urged authorities to swiftly identify and arrest those responsible, demanding strict punishment.
Upon receiving information, Agnimitra, the incumbent MLA of Asansol South, visited the site in the evening before heading to the police station with her supporters. There, she joined the protest, questioning the response of law enforcement. “Had such an incident involved another religious community, the police would not have remained such inactive,” she alleged.
Meanwhile, Mukherjee, the BJP candidate from Asansol North, also joined the demonstration with his supporters. As the protest intensified, he issued a warning to the Officer-in-Charge of the Asansol South Police Station, urging him to “mend his ways” and threatening a larger agitation if arrests were not made promptly.
Police personnel attempted to restore order and disperse the crowd, but the standoff continued late into the night. The prolonged protest disrupted vehicular movement and heightened tension across the locality.
Authorities have since stated that security and surveillance in the area have been increased, and efforts are underway to investigate the incident and maintain law and order.
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