Widespread violence in Bengal municipality polls, bombs hurled at voters

There were incidents of alleged electoral malpractices like rigging, while voters, opposition party candidates, and scribes were assaulted during the day. At the end of polling, voters' turnout was 77%.

KOLKATA: Elections to 107 Municipalities in West Bengal on Sunday were marred by sporadic violence. There were incidents of alleged electoral malpractices like rigging, while voters, opposition party candidates, and scribes were assaulted during the day. Scribes covering the polls were roughed up at several places with some receiving serious injuries and telecast accessories were damaged. At the end of the day, the average polling percentage in these 109 municipalities was reported at over 77%.

BJP, the principal opposition party of the state, has called for a 12-hour bandh on Monday demanding immediate scrapping of polls for all the 108 municipalities. They have also submitted a memorandum on this count to the office of the State Election Commission. The ruling Trinamool Congress state general secretary, Kunal Ghosh, a former scribe, condemned the attack on the scribes but also alleged that a section of the scribes had been playing a key role in instigating violence in the state by provoking the ruling party workers and leaders.

Alleging blatant rigging by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) caders, Congress activists clashed with police at Dalkhola in North Dinajpur district, blocked roads, and pelted stones at police personnel. TMC cadres also clashed with police in the Dhulian Municipality area in Murshidabad district after the latter tried to prevent alleged electoral malpractices by the ruling party workers. While the TMC cadres pelted stones at police, the latter retaliated with a baton charge and lobbed tear gas shells.

Clashes between TMC and BJP workers broke out in the Bhatpara municipality in North 24 Parganas, known to be the stronghold of the BJP MP Arjun Singh. Some miscreants were beaten up by voters in the Kamarhati area of the district when bike-borne miscreants allegedly hurled bombs in the area to intimidate voters. There were also reports of EVMs being destroyed by unidentified goons.

However, state election commissioner, Sourav Das and the state police DGP, Manoj Malviya both said that “Barring some stray incidents the polling process overall was peaceful and the state police personnel have done an excellent job in ensuring free and fair polls.” The DGP also said the police will be active on Monday on any attempt to enforce bandh in the state.

(With agency inputs)