Ram Navami processions in Raniganj area of Asansol in West Bengal turned violent as representatives of two communities clashed leaving one dead, while several injured including a senior cop.

The central Aakhara was scheduled to take out processions in Raniganj of Asansol along with different Aakhara committees from different areas.

In fact, Union Minister and Member of Parliament of Asansol Babul Supriyo was also scheduled to take part in the Central Aakhara which was being organised by BJP and it's another organisation.

Before Babul Supriyo could join the processions, the clash broke out between both community people. It all started with objections on use of loud speakers in the processions which began with a heated debate and soon turned violent and murky.

Police personnel who came to control the situation were also attacked with bricks and stones.

The rumours spread like wildfire and bombing of crude bombs began within seconds sparing not even the cops.

Arindam Dutta Chowdhry Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarter), who reached the spot to monitor the situation, got injured in the bomb attack with his right hand almost blown away in the blast.

Apart from him, more than 50 people including two Assistant Commisioner of Police, officer in charge of Raniganj Police station, other 20 police personnels and civilians were injured.

The injured IPS officer was shifted to Mission hospital of Durgapur for medical treatment. Clash between the two groups spread rapidly in the area and the violence took an ugly shape with passing of time.

Houses and shops were looted, and Raniganj police station was also targeted by the people. Many vehicles stranded on road were ransacked and set ablaze. Shitala temple was also ransacked.

Later, Union Minister Babul Supriyo reached Raniganj area in the afternoon and took stock of the situation. He could not visit the affected area due to prohibitory orders imposed by the police.

Mayor of the city Jitendra Tiwary, an active TMC voice in Raniganj area, has been asked by the party to ensure peace in the area and no further escalation of tension.

Additional forces from neighbouring district of Bankura and Birbhum have been reinstated in the area.

"This is a very sad incident. When I reached Asansol, I came to know that a big incident has taken place in Raniganj. I contacted with police and I wanted to know whether this is a case of BJP CPIM Congress and TMC clash or there is any shadow of riot in it. I was told that this is a Hindu-Muslim case. Shitala Mandir has been ransacked. Many houses and shops have been ablazed. A few police officers have sustained injury and one of the officers lost a hand in bombing. I don't know who instigated it. Obviously, it was out of police control," said Babul Supriyo.

He added, "If I would have reached there then I would have been made responsible for the same."

He urged the politics in the name of religion to be stopped. "I will not try to put ghee in the fire but I will try to look a solution with the help of police," he said.

While the TMC leader and Mayor of Asansol Jitendra Tiwary claims, "This is the work of people who do not have any knowledge. They do not know that both Hindu and Muslim houses are burnt, they have nothing to eat. Those who are doing this, will they stand with them? We will have to look at all. What is happening here in Raniganj is not good. A few people are trying to burn Raniganj and we will oppose it. I will remain in Raniganj till normalcy is restored. This is the instruction of our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and our observer Aroop Biswas and we are not leaving the town."

Rapid action force and combat forces have been rushed to the spot for area domination. Till now, one person named Naresh Mondal, a local resident has lost his life in the communal clash.

(with inputs from Anil Giri in Asansol)