New Delhi: Violence continued in Bengal even after the panchayat elections were over on July 8, with the death toll reaching 20 with the alleged killing of a Trinamool Congress worker in Malda on Saturday night.
According to media reports, Trinamool Congress activist Maitur Rahman was heckled at the polling booth when he went to cast his vote. Rehman was stabbed to death and the TMC blamed the state’s opposition Congress for this.
Bloodshed has become a culture in West Bengal during the election season, which is why violence is rampant in the state despite the intervention of the Calcutta High Court.
The State Election Commission (SEC) has requisitioned 822 companies of central forces for the polls, but got only 649 companies even after the Calcutta High Court ordered them to provide proper assistance for the polls, reports Frontline.
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As a result, violence broke out in the state, in which many people were killed and the law and order situation broke down.
Earlier on July 6, the Calcutta HC had issued directions to central forces to remain in the state for 10 days after the elections.
Many people died the night before the panchayat elections
As part of the vote-robbing and rigging that has now become the legacy of any election in Bengal, at least four people were killed the night before the election.
The four are Congress worker Yasmin Sheikh from Rejinagar in Murshidabad district, TMC worker Sabeeruddin Sheikh from Khargram in Murshidabad district, Babar Ali from Beldanga in the same district and Ganesh Sarkar from Cooch Behar.
Bloodshed on the streets, pitched battle in the field
While intense bloodshed was witnessed on the streets, activists from the ruling Trinamool, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Congress and independents were engaged in acrimonious fighting.
grueling election scenario
The electoral scenario in Bengal unfolded dire pictures as clashes broke out on the streets and public protests, including vandalism at polling booths. People who came to vote were threatened and were also stopped from working.
All this happened when the police officers were also intimidated and their vehicles destroyed and they found themselves deprived of the help of the central forces.