Kolkata, April 6: Ram Navami celebrations across West Bengal passed off peacefully on Sunday, with rallies and vibrant processions held under tight security, as police reported no incidents of violence despite armed displays with swords and maces in some areas.
With the assembly elections a year away, the political undertones of this year’s Ram Navami celebrations were unmistakable, as both the BJP and the TMC mobilised large crowds and saw active participation from their top leaders in the festivities.
In a politically charged move ahead of the 2026 state polls, Leader of the Opposition and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari laid the foundation stone for a Ram temple at Sonachura village in Nandigram, turning the epicentre of the 2007 land agitation into a fresh battleground for Hindutva politics in Purba Medinipur.
“The situation in the state remained peaceful and there was not a single incident to disrupt law and order. Everything was covered and it was incident-free,” ADG (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim told PTI.
While armed rallies featuring swords and maces were taken out in Bardhaman district, Kakinara and Barasat in North 24 Parganas, there were no reports of violence.
Shamim said police would examine CCTV footage and take necessary action wherever participants were seen carrying weapons.
In sensitive areas like Purulia, Asansol, and Durgapur – especially in light of upcoming Mahavir Jayanti and Hanuman Jayanti celebrations – forces will remain on high alert.
Over 2,000 Ram Navami rallies were held across West Bengal, including more than 60 in Kolkata, according to Hindutva groups. (PTI)
