The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday asked the West Bengal government for a report on Sunday's violence in Malda district. Police on Tuesday arrested 10 men in connection with the violent attacks by a mob in Kaliachak. The Indian Express reported that after their arrests, bombs were hurled in the area and more violence broke out, injuring two Rapid Action Force officers.
On Sunday, a rally was organised by members of Idara-e-Shariya to protest derogatory remarks made by Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwari about Prophet Mohammad. The rally allegedly grew violent, with a mob then attacking a bus and ransacking the local police station and setting it on fire. The rally swelled to more than 2.5 lakh people, and thousands clashed with local police and security forces. The mob also set several vehicles on fire , including a Border Security Force van.
Several policemen and security officials were injured, including inspector-in-charge Subhabrata Ghosh, and a Rashtriya Swayamseva Sangh worker Gopal Tiwari. The total number of those injured remains unclear. On Wednesday, police detained Bharatiya Janata Party member Shamik Bhattacharya and around 10 others before they entered the town, which has been tense since Sunday's riot.
The Indian Express reported that the BJP has hit out at Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress for the incident, and its “politics of appeasement”. Congress MP from Malda South, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, has also blamed the TMC for the violence. A senior member of Idara-e-Shariya blamed the police for the riot and claims that protestors were not at fault.
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