With communal tension prevailing in parts of West Bengal over a Facebook post, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif today took to Twitter to speak his mind, urging people to stop maligning religion and creating a sense of fear in the society.
Kaif, who hails from Allahabad, termed the communal violence that has gripped West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas district in last few days as a ‘shame’ and added that ‘violence is against the teachings of Prophet Muhammad’. Kaif also noted that rioting taking place in the district has resulted in property damage worth crores.
“Prophet Sahab is too great to be defended against a FB post. Damaging property worth crores & violence is absolutely against his teachings. Shame,” Kaif tweeted.
Violent clashes erupted in Basirhat area of the district after a Class 10 student updated a controversial picture on Facebook. The boy was later detained by police but the violence hasn’t abated.
Fresh tension was reported in Basirhat area yesterday forcing the police to lob tear gas shells and resort to baton charge even as the state government decided to ban some organisations for allegedly instigating people. According to police, tension brewed up at Basirhat town and station area after the communal clashes in Baduria in the district.
On the other hand, the Mamata Banerjee government today claimed that things have returned to normal in Baduria and surrounding areas. A BJP delegation led by MP Roopa Ganguly was detained by police near Michael Nagar area when they were on their way to riot-hit Baduria area in North 24 Parganas district. Ganguly and 19 party leaders were detained by the police close to the airport. After being detained, the BJP team was brought to the Airport police station.
Meanwhile, state government has temporarily suspended internet services in four police station areas of Basirhat, Baduria, Swarupnagar and Deganga to check the spread of rumours through social networking sites.
