The police allowed the Ram Navami processions without formal permission in West Bengal’s Howrah despite letters by the organisers suggesting their refusal to comply with at least one crucial guideline. The processions eventually saw several violations, be it music, weapons, motorcycles or the rally schedule, according to video clips and documents reviewed by this reporter.
While one procession was organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad, another was by local Hindutva outfit Anjani Putra Sena. The guidelines were sent to them by the Howrah police on March 21, days after they sought approval for the rallies – which left behind a trail of communal violence in Shibpur on March 30 and 31.
