AN UNEASY calm prevails in Rabindranagar and surrounding areas, including Maheshtala, days after Wednesday's clashes. Residents remain largely indoors, with shops and markets shut, as a massive police deployment keeps a tight vigil over the affected localities. Prohibitory orders are still in place. “Shops are still shut, markets too,” said Praveen Sharma, a youth residing near the Akra fish market. The violence, which erupted on Wednesday afternoon in Maheshtala under the Rabindranagar police station limits, resulted in injuries to many. According to sources, the flashpoint was an attempt to construct a ‘tulsi mancha’ (a platform for a sacred basil plant) at a site where a fruit seller, a member of a minority community, previously had a thela shop. The dispute quickly escalated into a skirmish between two groups, leading to widespread vandalism, brick-pelting and attacks on police personnel. Several police vehicles were damaged and at least five police personnel suffered injuries. A large number of personnel from various police stations, including those from Akra Station to Baratola, have been deployed across the Rabindranagar police station area since Thursday. Round-the-clock patrolling and loudspeaker announcements are being conducted to reassure residents and deter any further disturbances. Areas that witnessed vandalism and brick-pelting have been cleaned up, police sources said. So far, a total of 40 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes in Maheshtala. While 28 arrests were made by the police in South 24 Parganas district, 12 were made by the Kolkata Police. Authorities anticipate that the number of arrests will rise as police are likely to conduct special drives to apprehend more trouble-mongers. The police have issued warnings against rumor-mongering and said strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to incite unrest. “Sustained police presence and ongoing probe aim to restore complete normalcy,” said an officer.
