Sporadic incidents of violence were reported on Monday across West Bengal during elections to eight Lok Sabha constituencies spread across five districts of the State. There was no major incident of violence and till 11 a.m., 34.7 % voters had exercised their franchise.
Violence was reported from Bandar in Nanoor area of Birbhum district as BJP supporters clashed with Trinamool Congress men over allegations of electoral malpractices. Sanyasi Lohar (60) of Bandar village alleged he was allegedly beaten up by TMC supporters after he cast his vote. Mr. Lohar and his family are BJP supporters.
Chand Bibi, a Trinamool Congress supporter of the same area, was crying in the middle of a road leading to the polling booth. She alleged that she was not allowed to vote by BJP supporters.
Vegetables just before being cooked, puffed rice, cylinders, a cooking stove lay scattered on ground bearing signs of violence at a makeshift Trinamool office at Bandar village.
At Dubrajpur in Birbhum, a central armed police force officer allegedly fired a few shots in the air during an altercation he had with locals who surrounded him.
Clashes were reported at Nalhati and there were allegations of intimidation of voters at Rampurhat in the district.
Trinamool leader under surveillance
In Birbhum district, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has kept Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal under surveillance. His movement will be videographed and he will not be allowed to use a cellphone. The ECI also issued a show-cause notice to Dudh Kumar Mondal for entering a polling booth with his mobile camera.
At Asansol, BJP candidate and Union Minister Babul Supriyo was seen arguing inside a polling booth. He alleged that agents of his party were driven out of polling booths. The vehicle of the MP was also attacked.
There were reports of locals protesting at a polling booth in Jemua in Asansol demanding that central forces be deployed there.
In Nadia district, there were reports of violence at certain polling booths at Palashipara. Bahrampur Congress candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also alleged electoral malpractices in the heart of Bahrampur town.
Elections are being held in Asansol, Bardhaman Purba, Bardhaman-Durgapur, Bolpur, Birbhum, Ranaghat, Krishnanagar and Bahrampur Lok Sabha seats. These seats are spread across five districts — Bardhaman, Asansol, Bardhaman Purba, Birbhum, Nadia and Murshidabad.
Unprecedented security arrangements have been made with the deployment of 561 companies of security forces and 88 companies of quick response teams. More than 95% of the polling booths had central forces.
