Amid concerns over attempts to consolidate electorates along religious lines by political parties, West Bengal police on Saturday registered a case at Shyampur police station in Howrah district against two individuals accusing them of plotting to incite discord between religious communities ahead of the upcoming Eid and Ram Navami festivals in early April.
The FIR has been lodged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertain to inciting communal tension, promoting enmity between groups, committing malicious acts intended to outrage religious sentiments and criminal conspiracy.
Additional director general of police (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim said that authorities had uncovered the plot and acted swiftly to prevent its execution. “We are not disclosing the identities of the suspects at this stage, as the investigation is still in its early phase. Our team is working to uncover further details about their plan,” Shamim said.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and refrain from spreading rumours or engaging in provocation. “The first week of April is significant for religious celebrations in the state. We appeal to everyone to maintain the spirit of festivity and avoid reacting to any form of incitement,” he added.
Referring to the police case, Supratim Sarkar, the additional director general of police (south Bengal), emphasised that investigators are assessing whether this was an isolated incident or part of a larger scheme to create unrest. “Given the widespread influence of social media, we request people not to react impulsively to online content and to refrain from engaging in violence,” he said.
Regarding concerns raised by the BJP about potential attacks on Ram Navami processions scheduled for April 6, Shamim assured that police are fully prepared to ensure a peaceful celebration. “All necessary security arrangements will be in place to escort and safeguard the processions,” he stated.
The BJP and its ideological affiliate, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have planned to organise approximately 2,000 processions across West Bengal on April 6 to mark Ram Navami—doubling the nearly 1,000 processions held last year. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation to maintain law and order during the festivities.
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