Kolkata: West Bengal police prevented a six-member fact-finding team, including former Patna High Court Chief Justice Narasimha Reddy, from visiting Hooghly district, which recently witnessed communal clashes surrounding Ram Navami celebrations, news agency ANI reported.

The former Chief Justice of Patna High Court Narasimha Reddy said the team was stopped from entering as Section 144 of CrPC has been enforced in the area.

“They (police) are saying that CrPC section 144 has been imposed but nothing is here. They are scared because they will be exposed,” said Narasimha Reddy while speaking to ANI.

On Friday, the leaders of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), a Muslim organization, were prevented from entering the violence-affected Rishra town in West Bengal's Hooghly district.

Speaking to ANI, an ISF leader, who was part of the delegation, said, “The situation here is not that bad. Some political forces are trying to stoke tension and violence. Locals of Rishra are peace-loving and united but some people did try to incite trouble here. Our objective was to go to Rishra and talk to the local administration on the prevailing situation.”

“We believe in our Constitution and take a lot of pride in it. so, if the administration asks us not to visit a particular place, we won’t dispute that and take the law into our hands,” he added.

On the violent clashes in Howrah and Hooghly districts during the Ram Navami celebrations and after, the ISF leader told ANI, “The incidents have scarred both the communities and have put fear in their minds. We just wanted to ask the local administration why they haven’t been able to restore normalcy and calm to the town yet.”

On April 2, a clash broke out between BJP supporters during a Shobha Yatra (religious procession) in Hooghly, West Bengal.

The following day, April 3, there was another incident of stone-pelting in Rishra town, leading to the suspension of all suburban and long-distance express train services to and from Rishra railway station by the Eastern Railway.