Devotees Attacked, Vehicles Vandalised During Ram Navami Procession in Kolkata; BJP Slams TMC Over ‘Targeted Violence’

Kolkata witnessed high tension on Sunday as a Ram Navami procession was allegedly attacked by unidentified miscreants in the city’s Park Circus Seven Point area. Several devotees were reportedly ambushed and vehicles vandalised during the incident, sparking a political row between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

According to the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the attack occurred despite a heavy police presence. Visuals shared by the party showed damaged cars and chaos at the scene. The BJP has accused the state administration of allowing “targeted violence” against Hindu devotees and failing to act against the perpetrators.

“Just last Friday, at the same location, members of the Muslim community protested against the Waqf Bill, bringing the city to a halt. Today, Hindus have once again been targeted—and once again, the police chose silence,” the party said in a post on social media platform X.

Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar called the incident a case of “targeted violence,” alleging that vehicles were pelted with stones simply for displaying saffron flags. “Windshields shattered. Chaos unleashed. This wasn’t random—it was targeted,” he said.

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Majumdar further claimed that police personnel stood by without intervening. “Where was the police? Right there. Watching. Silent. Spineless,” he said, vowing that next year’s Ram Navami procession through Park Circus would be “bigger and mightier.”

The BJP’s Leader of Opposition in the state, Suvendu Adhikari, also took part in Ram Navami celebrations by laying the foundation stone for a Ram temple in Nandigram. Several BJP leaders, including Majumdar and MP Saumitra Khan, participated in processions held across the state, with Khan showcasing traditional ‘Lathi Khela’ (stick martial art) skills.

The Trinamool Congress has not yet issued an official statement on the alleged incident in Park Circus.

West Bengal saw approximately 2,500 Ram Navami rallies on Sunday, turning the religious festival into a political battleground ahead of the 2026 state assembly elections. Both BJP and TMC leaders led processions across various districts.

In anticipation of possible unrest, over 6,000 police personnel were deployed throughout the state, supported by drone surveillance and CCTV monitoring. Despite the Park Circus incident, the day was largely peaceful, according to police sources.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, in a statement, praised the state government’s handling of the Ram Navami celebrations, noting that earlier instances of political conflict appeared distant this year.

“The Chief Minister and the government made a comprehensive plan and deployed an adequate number of security forces. It was a great success for everyone to ensure that people celebrated the festival in an atmosphere of joy and peace,” the Raj Bhavan statement read.

The situation in Park Circus remains under scrutiny, with opposition parties likely to continue pressing the government for accountability. Police are yet to issue a detailed report on the incident or confirm any arrests.