While there was no major flare-up, tension is prevailing in West Bengal as the State has been witnessing low-intensity violence since election results were declared on Thursday.
In many places, workers of the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were roughed up and party offices demolished over the past 24 hours. BJP workers captured Trinamool’s offices at many places. The police are expecting the violence to intensify as victory rallies are brought out.
A marked difference between post-result violence in earlier elections and the recent Lok Sabha poll is that the BJP is attacking the Trinamool as much as the ruling party is attacking it.
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In the Mathabhanga block of Cooch Behar district, Trinamool’s Forest Minister Binay Krishna Burman was gheraoed outside the Trinamool office by BJP supporters, who raised “go back” slogans. The Minister was rescued by the police. Later, the BJP activists captured the office. In Alipurduar, a Trinamool activist was severely injured after being attacked with machetes, the police said.
Complaints were lodged in against five BJP activists but the district BJP described it as “a result of TMC’s infighting.” In Gangarampur in South 24 Paraganas, BJP activists captured a TMC party and the party workers said that they have “converted” themselves.
“We were with TMC and constructed this party office. Now we are converted and joined the BJP, after the election results were declared, and decided to capture the same office raised by us,” a TMC-turned-BJP activist said. BJP leader Mukul Roy however said that :it is not part of BJP’s culture to capture party offices.”
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TMC too attacked BJP activists in areas where they are in command. In Kanksha in Paschim Medinipur, Sheikh salauddin of BJP was attacked by Sheikh Safikul of TMC. Mr Safikul allegedly “threatened” Mr Salauddin saying that “to stay in the area he will have to leave the area.” TMC called it “infighting” of BJP. Allegation against TMC’s leader Buddha Koiborto in Bolpur was that they have “withheld the job card of 100 days work” of BJP activists. A BJP activist, Santu Ghjosh’s body was found in Nadia district yesterday; one person was arrested. TMC however has said that the murder has nothing to do with the TMC.
“BJP organising candle light vigil to propagate more falsehood and lies. Here are the facts. Not a single BJP worker has been killed in Bengal due to political violence. During Panchayat polls, more than 30 Trinamool workers were murdered by BJP. They also killed a Trinamool MLA,” a TMC statement said.
Besides, a series of incidents of violence was reported in last 72 hours, many of such incidents were communal in nature especially in North 24 Paraganas district.