The West Bengal police and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya engaged in a war of words on Saturday as sporadic incidents of violence marred the seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls in nine Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Although the poll panel has claimed that voting has been peaceful so far, Malviya took to X and shared a video of clashes in Bhangar, within the Jadavpur constituency near Kolkata, between the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and CPI(M) supporters.
He said the “democracy is up in flames in West Bengal” and alleged that the state police was acting like henchmen of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
“Bombs have been hurled in Jadavpur’s Bhangar, irate villagers in Joynagar’s Kultali have thrown an EVM and VVPAT machine in a pond because TMC goons won’t let them vote…But the worse affected is Diamond Harbour, where Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and heir apparent is contesting from. BJP workers are being intimidated, not allowed to sit in the booths, their polling documents Ana ched and destroyed,” Malviya said.
“WB Police is acting like Abhishek Banerjee’s henchmen. Even the Muslims have not been spared because a large number of them are voting for CPI(M) candidate Pratikur Rahman. TMC’s ‘secularism’ dies the moment Muslims start voting against it,” he added.
This incident happened in the morning around 6am much before polling process Bengal. Police and CAPF immediately intervened and have taken steps against miscreants. Legal action initiated. Polling in Bhangar started without any interruption and is going on peacefully. https://t.co/GMJRTdMc41— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) June 1, 2024
Replying to Malviya, the Kolkata police said violence in Bhangar happened in the morning around 6 am, much before the polling process in Bengal.
“Police and CAPF immediately intervened and have taken steps against miscreants. Legal action initiated. Polling in Bhangar started without any interruption and is going on peacefully,” the police said.
Malviya again attacked the Kolkata police for allegedly normalising violence in Bengal and asked the authorities to be ‘ashamed of themselves’ for failing to secure the city.
“So, Kolkata Police’s argument is that it is normal and perfectly fine for bombs to be hurled in Bengal. Well done! You should be ashamed of yourself for failing to secure Kolkata. Just in case you have not figured out – your job is to secure people and not be doormat of ruling TMC,” he said.
Violence In Bengal
TMC, ISF and BJP workers clashed in various parts of violence-prone Jadavpur and Diamond Harbour constituencies. The Election Commission said it had received 1,450 complaints until 11 am from different political parties alleging EVM malfunctions and agents being stopped from entering booths.
Clashes broke out between supporters of the TMC, ISF and the BJP in different pockets of the state as the parties clashed over stopping polling agents from entering booths.
A confrontation erupted in Bhangar within the Jadavpur constituency between backers of Trinamool Congress and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), with allegations of crude bombs being hurled from both sides. Police intervention ensued, triggering protests as both factions accused each other. To quell the situation, security personnel resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the mob, recovering several crude bombs.
Angry voters of Kultuli within the Joynagar constituency took drastic measures by hurling electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VV-PAT) machines into nearby waterbodies. Their actions were fueled by feelings of electoral misconduct, reflecting their frustration over perceived voting restrictions.
“Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs & papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU , 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond,” the office of CEO West Bengal posted on X.
“Sector Police was a little behind. FIR has been lodged by Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. Poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer,” it further said.
TMC supporters have accused the ISF of orchestrating the violence to intimidate voters. Prompt action from local law enforcement led to lathi charges and the arrest of suspects in Polerhat area of Bhangar.
Another incident occurred where the vehicle of an ISF worker was vandalized in Baghajatin area. Accusations have been leveled against Trinamool Congress supporters for the alleged incident..
In Diamond Harbour, the pocket borough of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who is also seeking re-election, witnessed clashes between TMC and BJP supporters as the saffron party candidate Abhijit Das alleged malpractices by the ruling party. The TMC, however, denied the allegations.
In Jadavpur area’s Ganguly Bagan, CPI(M) workers were allegedly beaten by the TMC activists and their camp offices were ransacked. The TMC, however, denied the allegations and accused the Left party of intimidating the voters.
The state Congress unit wrote to CEO Aariz Aftab requesting him to take stern action against alleged irregularities and rigging that are taking place in various pockets.
In Bermajur area of Sandeshkhali, the BJP made allegations that TMC workers, accompanied by policemen, intimidated its polling agents by visiting their homes on Friday night.
Backed by video evidence, the party asserted that the women of Sandeshkhali had expressed their discontent against the TMC government’s actions, portraying them as attempts to intimidate the populace ahead of the final phase of elections.
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