West Bengal Police calls Dhulagarh violence a local incident

Posting a status on Twitter, West Bengal Police stated, "The Dhulagarh incident was outcome of a dispute arising out of a local issue between 2 group of people. Govt immediately took strong action."

The state police also claimed that the situation is completely under control.

"Situation under total control & normal. 58 accused persons arrested. Govt has provided relief in the area," it further tweeted.

Earlier on Dec 12, people of two communities were engaged in a clash with each other at a village in West Bengal's Dhulagarh, barely 28 km from state capital Kolkata, over a religious procession.

During the clash, few crude bombs were allegedly hurled by one community, several houses, shops and a temple were reportedly vandalized, locals were looted and motorcycles, cycles and few homes were set on fire.

According to locals, several people were injured after being beaten up by the attackers.

The violence lasted for two more days at the area, which triggered tension at the village, locals alleged.

A heavy police force along with Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed in the area, CrPC section 144 was imposed and few police pickets were set up at the village to control the situation.

Police booked at least 65 people from the area for allegedly creating violence, while all types of movements have been restricted there to maintain law and order, according to reports.

Leaders of CPI-M, BJP and Congress went to Dhulagarh earlier to witness violence hit area's situation and both teams were prevented by the police from entering the village.

Following the violence, SP of Howrah (Rural division), Sabyasachi Raman Mishra, was reportedly replaced by another IPS officer Sumit Kumar.

Meanwhile, West Bengal government has lodged an FIR under non-bailable section against a reporter and cameraman of Zee News for covering the communal violence from ground zero, national news channel's editor, Sudhir Chaudhary, claimed in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that nothing had happened in Dhulagarh.

She also blamed the media for asking her question on Dhulagarh clash and adding a communal angle into it.

"You should be ashamed for asking such questions, there has been no incidence. Let something happen first," Banerjee told the media.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)