The Aam Janata Unnayan Party led by former West Bengal minister Humayun Kabir has moved the Calcutta High Court alleging large-scale violence in Murshidabad district following the Assembly elections, Live Law reported on Wednesday.
Kabir had been suspended by the Trinamool Congress in December after he claimed that he would “build a Babri Masjid” in Murshidabad. He had floated the Aam Janata Unnayan Party ahead of the elections.
In its writ petition, the party alleged that “large-scale, systematic and politically motivated violence” had taken place in the aftermath of polling in Murshidabad during the first phase of the Assembly elections on April 23.
The petition cited incidents of targeted attacks, vandalism, use of explosives and intimidation of political workers, claiming that these had violated the rights to equality, freedom, life and personal liberty under the Constitution.
On April 23, clashes were reported from Murshidabad, where Kabir claimed that he had been attacked when he reached a polling booth in the Naoda Assembly constituency. The plea also referred to an incident the same day in which one of the petitioners was allegedly attacked, his vehicle vandalised and party workers assaulted, Live Law reported.
The party also alleged that the police refused to register a complaint in connection with the incident, describing it as “complete administrative inaction”.
“The state has failed in its constitutional duty to maintain law and order and protect citizens,” the legal news outlet quoted the petition as saying.
The matter had been listed for Tuesday but has yet to be taken up for hearing.
In the results of the Assembly elections announced on Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party defeated the ruling TMC in the state. The Hindutva party won 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the 15-year rule of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC.
Kabir secured a double win in the Nowda and Rejinagar constituencies in the elections. In Rejinagar, the Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief secured a win with a margin of 58,876 votes. He won in the Nowda seat by nearly 27,943 votes.
Violence in the state
The petition came amid political violence in the state after the BJP’s victory. Since the results were declared on Monday, there have been reports of attacks and vandalism targeting several TMC offices in the state.
On Tuesday, the TMC alleged that one of its workers had been murdered by members of the BJP.
Reports also emerged of several structures, including a TMC office, in the New Market area of Kolkata being vandalised by a mob carrying flags of the BJP on Tuesday.
Among the structures vandalised was the TMC’s New Market Union office, which was allegedly the primary target of the mob.
The BJP has claimed the incidents of vandalism were the result of internal rifts within the TMC, and that some of those carrying out violence were using the Hindutva party’s flags.
Also read:
SIR to CRPF: Five factors that helped the BJP conquer Bengal
How the BJP played the Bangladesh card during the Bengal poll campaign
Just 0.2% of readers pay for news. The others don’t care if it dies. You can help make a difference. Support independent journalism – join Scroll now.
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!