The Centre on Wednesday sought a report from the West Bengal government over cases of violence in the state during Ram Navami processions. Violence erupted in the Asansol-Raniganj area again on Wednesday, which has been tense since the clashes began on Monday, The Economic Times reported. The police have issued prohibitory orders and arrested 18 people.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has sought details of the incidents and prevailing tension in West Bengal, the measures taken to restore calm and the action initiated against those involved, The Indian Express reported.

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However, it did not seek any such report from the Bihar government though communal clashes were reported in Aurangabad during a Ram Navami procession.The Bharatiya Janata Party is in alliance with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) in the state. An unidentified government official told the newspaper that the Centre was only monitoring the situation in the state.

Three people were killed and dozens injured in clashes during Ram Navami processions that started on Sunday in various places in West Bengal. Violence was reported in Raniganj, Murshidabad, Kakinara, West Bardhman, Asansol and Purulia districts. The West Bengal government has rejected the Centre’s offer to send paramilitary forces to the state. Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee has accused the Centre of “unnecessarily meddling in the affairs of the state”. He claimed that the West Bengal government had “handled difficult situations in the past with our own force”, The Indian Express reported.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi said the state government had asked him not to visit Asansol to meet an injured police officer, The Economic Times reported. The government told the governor’s office it would not be able to provide him adequate security.