Ram Navami Violence: Calcutta High Court bars statements about Murshidabad demographics

The Calcutta High Court on Friday prohibited political parties and individuals from making any communally inflammatory statements concerning demographics of Murshidabad or about statistics regarding the population and the religion of people [Vishva Hindu Parishad Dakshinbanga vs Union of India]..A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya took note of the 'hate speeches' being made in the communally sensitive regions in Murshidabad, especially by some elected representatives."Since the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting a preliminary enquiry into the incident and this court is monitoring the same, there will be an order prohibiting any person either an individual or an organisation or a political party from making any comments concerning the subject issue or with regard to the demographics or statistics regarding the population and the religion to which they belong to," the bench ordered.Murshidabad had witnessed communal violence last month during the Ram Navami celebrations. .The Court was hearing two petitions one by Vishva Hindu Parishad and the other by Muslim Rashtriya Manch, both seeking proper probe into the sudden violence that broke out in various parts of Murshidabad between two communities..As advocate appearing for one of the parties told the bench on Friday that an elected representative made some 'hate speeches' recently. "The elected representative said Hindus in the area comprise only 30 per cent of the population there while the rest 70 per cent are Muslims. The elected representative further said that when there has been an attack on a mosque then the might of the majority (Muslims here) must prevail," the advocate told the Court..The Court was also informed that during the violence last month, bombs were hurled by miscreants.Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Ashoke Kr Chakraborty told the bench that if this contention (of bombs being hurled) is correct, then the same would come under the Scheduled Offences under the National Investigation Agency Act (NIA Act) At this, CJ Sivagnanam said, "If that is so then the First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged in the present case, must be transferred to some central agency. But lets give them (NIA) some reasonable time to examine the reports which claim bombs were used."The Court therefore, adjourned the hearing till June 13, with a directive to the NIA to file a detailed report after examining all the material before it.