WB govt advises Guv not to visit injured DSP in Durgapur

The West Bengal government has advised Governor K N Tripathi against visiting Durgapur to meet a DSP, injured in violence over a Ram Navami procession in Raniganj, citing its inability to provide him adequate security, according to a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan.

The governor had planned to visit the hospital in Durgapur where Asansol-Durgapur Deputy Commissioner of Police Arindam Dutta Chowdhury is being treated to acquaint himself with the situation, the statement issued by the Governor's press secretary read.

Chowdhury lost a hand during the violence when the agitators hurled a bomb at him.

"The state government informed that in view of deployment of police in the area, it will be difficult to provide adequate security to the Hon'ble Governor during the visit," the statement read.

The government said the situation was tense in the violence-hit region, including the nearby areas of Raniganj and Asansol and it was not "advisable for the governor to visit Durgapur".

The governor appealed to all sections of society to maintain peace, it added.

Heavy police force was deployed in the Raniganj area yesterday after clashes broke out between two groups on Monday over a Ram Navami procession in which one person was killed and two police officers were injured, according to officials.

In another incident, one person was killed and five police personnel were injured in a group clash in Purulia on Sunday.