The West Bengal Police increased security and patrolling in the Raniganj neighbourhood of Asansol in the state’s Paschim Bardhaman district on Tuesday, a day after one person died in clashes during a Ram Navami procession, The Indian Express reported. Total three people have died in violence related to Ram Navami processions in the state.

The police have arrested 18 people in connection with the violence in Raniganj that left five policemen injured, and imposed prohibitory orders in the area. The Rapid Action Force has also been deployed, reported ANI.

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On Monday, the altercation began when the residents of a Muslim-dominated area asked the people participating in a Ram Navami rally to lower the volume of the music they were playing. Several shops were looted and some were set on fire in the violence that followed. The deceased was identified as 50-year-old Mahesh Mandal. State Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak, who visited Raniganj on Tuesday evening, assured local people that the police had the situation under control, reported PTI.

Union minister Babul Supriyo, who represents Asansol in Lok Sabha, alleged that police inaction had led to the violence. “Yesterday’s violence in Raniganj occurred due to police inaction,” he told reporters in Kolkata. “The incident could have been averted had the police acted earlier. The goons had a free run there as the police did nothing to stop them.” The minister said he had talked to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about deploying central paramilitary forces in the area.

Responding to Supriyo’s statement, State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said the Union minister, who was earlier a playback singer in Hindi films, should “perform in movies” and not attempt to divide society. “If police had remained inactive then policemen would not have sustained injuries,” Chatterjee explained. “They were injured because they were active. Supriyo only sings songs but does not see from his eye.”