NIA Arrests Eleven More In West Bengal Ram Navmi Violence Case

New Delhi, March 20 (TNA) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested 11 more accused in the conspiracy relating to the communal violence that took place during Ram Navami celebrations in West Bengal in March 2023. These arrests have come less than a month after the NIA arrested 16 persons in the six cases, which were transferred to the NIA on 27th April 2023

These 11 accused were also among those involved in conspiring and perpetrating the attacks on members of a particular community, triggered by one such incident during a procession to celebrate Ram Navami in Shibpur, Howrah Police Commissionerate, on 30th March 2023. During its investigations, NIA had identified the accused from video footage seized from various locations. Investigations also led the NIA to other major revelations, resulting in these arrests, as well as the arrest of 16 persons on 26th February 2024.

The 11 arrested accused have been identified as Shamim Ahmed, Balwant Singh, Mehmud Alam, Mehfooz Alam Sonu, Shamshad Alam, Mohammad Ali, Salim Jawed, Sarfaraz Alam, Firoj Khan, Md. Sameer Ansari, and Shamshad Hussain, Raja. All of them are residents of Shibpur, Howrah.

The State Police initially registered the case against 36 persons in the wake of the communal violence triggered by the attack at 4th By Lane, PM Basti, Shipur, Howrah. The High Court of Calcutta had, on April 27, 2023, ordered the transfer of all the cases related to the spate of communal violence that took place during the Ram Nami celebrations to NIA.