The civic polls to two Municipal Corporations and certain other local bodies in West Bengal on Saturday was marred by violence with incidents of intimidating of voters at polling venues, attacks on polling agents and even candidates.
The violence was so overwhelming that the ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC) against whom the majority of allegations were directed at, was forced to admit that “large number of outsiders were present” in the areas that went to polls.
Leaders of the ruling party said it should not be assumed that outsiders indulging in violence have been deployed at the behest of their candidates.
Though not more than two per cent of the State’s voters exercised their franchise in the polls, the elections assume significance by the overwhelming allegations of electoral malpractices and the visual proof of the violence.
Voters being shoved pushed and beaten, journalists being attacked, unidentified youths coming out of polling booths after being confronted by mediapersons was a recurring visual during the day in the satellite township of Bidhannagar.
While bombs were hurled at Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation at Asansol at least two voters sustained bullet injuries. Several motorcycles in Kailhali area of Bidhannagar were set on fire after clashes between supporters of the TMC and the Congress.
There were reports of two persons being killed in Murshidabad district on Friday night where elections to several panchayats were held during the day.
While the locals said the deceased were Congress supporters who were attacked by their political opponents, senior police officials said the deceased were making crude bombs when explosions occurred.
According to the West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC), about 70 per cent voters were polled in the two municipal corporations and the other local bodies. The Opposition demanded that the elections be cancelled and fresh polls be held in these areas.
Like earlier instances, officials of the WBSEC said they have “received complaints of rigging and violence both from political parties and individuals including attack on journalists” and asked police to take necessary action.
Journalists injured Over a dozen journalists including photo and video journalists were attacked on Saturday while covering polls to the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, which triggered strong reactions from political parties, and Kolkata Press Club.
Anindya Sengupta, secretary of Kolkata Press Club, said in a statement that condemning the attack on such a large number of mediapersons on a single day “will not suffice”.
S. Sabanayakan, president, The Indian Journalists’ Association also demanded “immediate arrests of the culprits and proper penal action” against those responsible for unprovoked attack on journalists. No arrest has been made so far.
While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had ordered a probe, the Opposition criticised the ruling Trinamool Congress for the attacks on media persons.
Two journalists of ABP Ananda - Aritrik Bhattacharya and Prakash Sinha - and the channel's cameraperson Partha Sarathi Chakraborty were attacked while they were reporting about booth capturing in ward number 31 in Bidhannagar area. The channel called the attacks “pre-planned” and alleged “miscreants harboured by the Trinamool” carried out the assaults.
