New Delhi: After pulling off the turban of a Sikh man during BJP's protest in Howrah on Thursday went viral on social media platforms and news channels, the matter turned into a political battle across the county including the Sikh community. According to the BJP, the party has been gearing up for the next battle in the state against the All India Trinamool Congress.
Meanwhile, the state police on Saturday clarified that the incident was just a 'misconception' which was intentionally raised by the opposition parties adding that the man had fallen off automatically in the scuffle with policeman and was carrying firearms. However, the saffron party denied the allegations against the Sikh man and said he has been associated with a state BJP leader as a private bodyguard, accepting the fact of firearms and has no intentions to hurt the sentiments of any religion.
"The concerned person was carrying firearms in yesterday's protest. The Pagri had fallen off automatically in the scuffle that ensued, without any attempt to do so by our officer (visible in the video attached). It is never our intention to hurt the sentiments of any community," West Bengal Police tweeted.
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West Bengal Police respects all religions. The officer specifically asked him to put his Pagri back before the arrest. The attached photo has been clicked right before he was escorted to the Police Station. We remain committed to our duty to uphold law and order in the state(2/2) pic.twitter.com/BnTWztfDGW
— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) October 9, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">West Bengal Police respects all religions. The officer specifically asked him to put his Pagri back before the arrest. The attached photo has been clicked right before he was escorted to the Police Station. We remain committed to our duty to uphold law and order in the state(2/2) pic.twitter.com/BnTWztfDGW
— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) October 9, 2020West Bengal Police respects all religions. The officer specifically asked him to put his Pagri back before the arrest. The attached photo has been clicked right before he was escorted to the Police Station. We remain committed to our duty to uphold law and order in the state(2/2) pic.twitter.com/BnTWztfDGW
— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) October 9, 2020
Also Read: Congress to raise price rise, unemployment in Bengal rally'
The police said that the officer had specifically asked him to put his Pagri back before the arrest.
"West Bengal Police respects all religions. The officer specifically asked him to put his Pagri back before the arrest. The attached photo has been clicked right before he was escorted to the Police Station. We remain committed to our duty to uphold law and order in the state," West Bengal Police tweeted.
The incident took place during the "Nabanna Chalo" (state secretariat) rally organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) West Bengal on Thursday over corruption in SSC/TET and unemployment in the state.
Earlier, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, President, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and Akali Dal spokesperson and cricketer Harbhajan Singh urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take action against "erring" police officers.
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हम ममता बनर्जी जी से एक बार फिर अपील करते हैं कि कलकत्ता पुलिस के दोषी पुलिसकर्मियों के ख़िलाफ़ सख़्त कार्रवाई हो और बलविंदर सिंह को इंसाफ़ दिया जाए@MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/S9OyvAHK6P
— #Istandwithfarmers Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 10, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">हम ममता बनर्जी जी से एक बार फिर अपील करते हैं कि कलकत्ता पुलिस के दोषी पुलिसकर्मियों के ख़िलाफ़ सख़्त कार्रवाई हो और बलविंदर सिंह को इंसाफ़ दिया जाए@MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/S9OyvAHK6P
— #Istandwithfarmers Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 10, 2020हम ममता बनर्जी जी से एक बार फिर अपील करते हैं कि कलकत्ता पुलिस के दोषी पुलिसकर्मियों के ख़िलाफ़ सख़्त कार्रवाई हो और बलविंदर सिंह को इंसाफ़ दिया जाए@MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/S9OyvAHK6P
— #Istandwithfarmers Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 10, 2020
"Brutal attack on security officer Balwinder Singh & disrespect of his turban by West Bengal Police has angered Sikh community worldwide. I urge you Mamata Banerjee Ji to take action against erring police officers ASAP otherwise we will resort to measures, from protest to legal," Sirsa tweeted.
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WB police officers have disgraced a Sikh’s Dastar. This attack has hurt Sikh sentiments worldwide
— #Istandwithfarmers Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 10, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Instead of taking action on erring police officers, @WBPolice took Balwinder Singh on police remand for 3 days
We appeal @MamataOfficial to take action against erring police officers pic.twitter.com/FObbQNiRwF
">WB police officers have disgraced a Sikh’s Dastar. This attack has hurt Sikh sentiments worldwide
— #Istandwithfarmers Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 10, 2020
Instead of taking action on erring police officers, @WBPolice took Balwinder Singh on police remand for 3 days
We appeal @MamataOfficial to take action against erring police officers pic.twitter.com/FObbQNiRwFWB police officers have disgraced a Sikh’s Dastar. This attack has hurt Sikh sentiments worldwide
— #Istandwithfarmers Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 10, 2020
Instead of taking action on erring police officers, @WBPolice took Balwinder Singh on police remand for 3 days
We appeal @MamataOfficial to take action against erring police officers pic.twitter.com/FObbQNiRwF
Commenting on West Bengal Police's explanation, Sirsa said it does not undo the hurt caused by the "insensitivity and brutality" of West Bengal police.
"This explanation does not undo the hurt caused by the insensitivity and brutality of West Bengal police. We want exemplary action against the airing police officers who unleashed their barbarism on Balwinder Singh. We want justice for the disrespect meted out to turban," he tweeted.
Also Read: WB police deny pulling off Sikh man's turban at BJP protest
