West Bengal: 12 killed in violence amid voting for panchayat polls

At least 12 persons were killed in separate incidents of violence in West Bengal on Saturday during the panchayat polls in the state, reported PTI.

Seven Trinamool Congress Party members and one worker each of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Congress, the Indian Secular Front and a supporter of an independent candidate are those among the dead.

State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha hbody has said that the poll body will look into the allegations of rigging and decide on repolling based on reports from observers and returning officers.

The panchayat polls for 73,887 seats began at 7 am. Despite deployment of central security forces by a Calcutta High Court order last month, widespread violence has marred the polling process across the state.

The BJP has alleged that its polling agent, Madhav Biswas, in Falimari gram panchayat of Cooch Behar was shot dead by Trinamool Congress members, reported PTI.

“TMC goons hurled a bomb at my agent and killed him,” party candidate Maya Barman told the news agency. “They also attacked me.”

BJP MLA from Cooch Behar Nikhil Ranjan Dey accused West Bengal Election Commission Rajiv Sinha of covertly supporting the Trinamool Congress and allowing violence against the Opposition, reported ANI. He also said that the BJP will take the matter to the Calcutta High Court.

Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, demanded that President’s Rule be imposed in the state. “The situation is horrible,” Adhikari told PTI. “The central forces were not properly used, and the state election commission and the ruling Trinamool Congress government are trying to mislead the people.”

In another incident, the Trinamool Congress alleged that Ganesh Sarkar, its booth committee member in Tufanganj 2 panchayat samiti in Cooch Behar district, was killed in an attack by the BJP, reported PTI.

Another Trinamool Congress worker was allegedly killed during a clash allegedly between the ruling party and Congress workers at Chapra in Nadia district.

A 52-year-old Trinamool Congress Party worker, Sateshuddin Sheikh, was killed in Khargram of Murshidabad district.

Brother of a Trinamool Congress leader was killed in a clash with Congress supporters in Malda district, the police said. The deceased has been identified as Malek Sheikh.

The Trinamool Congress has also claimed that two of their party workers were murdered in Rejinagar and Tufanganj and two wounded by gunshots in Domkol, reported The Indian Express.

The party claimed that 27 people have been killed since the panchayat elections were announced on June 8, and 17 of them were from the Trinamool Congress, reported PTI.

“If Trinamool were indeed instigating violence, as the media is alleging, why would their own workers be targeted and killed,” the party said, reported the news agency. “The Opposition has conceded defeat and is now attempting to shape the narrative around how violence affected the election, utilising their allies in the media.”

A supporter of an Independent candidate died in Kadambagachi area in North 24 Paraganas district after he was beaten up, PTI reported. The man, identified as 41-year-old Abdullah Ali, died while undergoing treatment at a local hospital on Saturday, Superintendent of Police Bhaskar Mukherjee told the news agency.

Ahead of the voting on Friday, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) worker, Rajibul Hoque, was critically injured after he was attacked by alleged Trinamool Congress supporters in East Bardhaman district’s Aushgram 2 block, reported PTI. He died in the morning while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Incidents of destruction of ballot boxes and intimidation of voters were also reported from some areas of the state.

In Cooch Behar district’s Dinhata, ballot boxes were vandalised and ballot papers were set on fire at a booth in Baravita Government Primary School, reported PTI. At another booth in the Barnachina area, a ballot box was torched by residents who alleged that voting process was rigged.

The Trinamool Congress shared a video on Twitter showing a Border Security Force official purportedly threatening the voters. However, the official can be seen walking back to his vehicle after residents asked him what camp he belongs to.

“The involvement of the BSF in the panchayat elections is unnecessary and unwarranted yet they are harassing our people,” the Trinamool Congress tweeted. “Not a single officer from the central forces was found on the scene to tackle the situation. What happened to the tall claims of maintaining law and order during the polls BJP, Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist)?”