West Bengal: Heavy violence during Panchayat elections, 18 killed in bombing-firing; BJP demands CBI inquiry
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BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari has demanded the CBI and NIA to investigate the election violence in Bengal.
There was heavy violence in the three-tier panchayat elections in West Bengal. 18 people were killed and more than 50 were injured in nine districts of arson, bombing and firing from north to south Bengal. However, opposition parties have feared the death toll of more than 30 people. Among those killed, 10 belonged to the ruling Trinamool Congress. Three workers each of BJP and Congress and two of CPI(M) also became victims of violence. This situation remained when 1.7 lakh security forces of the Center and the state were deployed. Amid violence, 66.28 per cent voting took place in Bengal. The results will come on July 11.
The BJP has blamed Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the election violence and demanded a probe by a central agency. BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari said that we demand that the investigation of election violence should be done by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency. The BJP leader said central forces were not deployed at polling stations. He said that we will approach the court along with the families of those killed and demand a detailed inquiry into the incidents of violence. The official said that he would ask the State Election Commissioner to direct CM Mamata Banerjee to pay a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
As soon as the voting for about 74,000 seats started on Saturday, incidents like fighting and looting of booths started coming to the fore at the polling stations. Murshidabad, Coochbehar and South 24 Parganas districts were the centers of violence. In Coochbehar, Trinamool supporters were accused of breaking ballot boxes, destroying ballot papers and setting polling booths on fire. Ballot papers and other materials were burnt at many places in Uttar Dinajpur. The incidents were carried out by covering the CCTV cameras. Water was poured into ballot boxes in South Dinajpur. Ballot boxes were thrown into a pond in Murshidabad. Ballot papers were also found floating in the water. A police vehicle was also set on fire here late at night. Ballot papers were also found floating in the water. In Purulia too, incidents of polling booth vandalism and tearing of ballot papers were reported. A youth ran away with a ballot box in Hazrahat village of Mathbhanga-1 block of Cooch Behar.
BJP polling agent murdered in Coochbehar
In Coochbehar district, BJP's polling agent Madhab Biswas was killed in Falimiri gram panchayat, officials said. The allegation is on TMC workers. The TMC alleged that a member of Tufanganj Panchayat Samiti was murdered by BJP workers. Heavy violence also took place in North Dinajpur and a scuffle broke out between TMC and Congress supporters in Golpokhara Panchayat. In this, TMC's panchayat chief Shanshah was killed. A TMC worker killed in Murshidabad district has been identified as Babar Ali. Another TMC worker was killed in Khargram in the same district.
Election commission office locked
Senior BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari along with hundreds of supporters reached the State Election Commission office late in the evening and locked the gate. Then sat on strike. At the same time, State BJP President Sukant Majumdar alleged that the State Election Commission was responsible for the anarchy. Central forces were not deployed and Trinamool supporters were allowed to loot ballot boxes.
Home Minister kept taking report every moment
The Home Minister from Delhi was constantly monitoring the violence that took place during the Panchayat elections in West Bengal. He took every moment's news and also took the report of the situation. On the other hand, Governor CV Anand Bose visited the spot throughout the day to take stock of the situation and gave necessary instructions to the security forces. On the other hand, BJP and Congress have surrounded Mamta government of Trinamool Congress on violence.
Information and Broadcasting and Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur said that what is the compulsion of Mamta Banerjee that her mind does not accept any election in Bengal without murder, arson, anarchy. At the behest of Mamta Didi, TMC has accepted murder as the guarantee of power. Thakur said, it is raining in Delhi but it is raining bombs in Bengal. Bomb culture of Bengal is today embarrassing India and democracy all over the world. People are running away with ballot boxes. Rigging is taking place in the ballot box and murders are taking place to establish supremacy. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said that during the Panchayat elections in Mamta Raj, there was open violence and more than 12 people were killed and many were injured. He wants to ask Mamata Banerjee what she has made of the state. Prasad said, Bengal was once the mother of democracy.
Mid-day meal money spent in elections, Center seeks report from Bengal government
The Union Ministry of Education has sought a report from the state government on financial irregularities in the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme in West Bengal. The ministry has written to the state government asking that the money from the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM Poshan) be spent for other purposes. Sources in the Ministry of Education said that an account has been opened to be used for the purpose of elections in the state, in which the mid-day meal money is being transferred. He said, digital documents made available on WhatsApp by state officials showed that the amount deposited in that account was used for elections in the state.
Congress: atmosphere of terror, reject elections
Congress state president Adhiranjan Chowdhary, while demanding the cancellation of the election, said, an atmosphere of terror is being created. Trinamool-BJP collusion has resulted in anarchy. The ruling Trinamool Congress blamed the violence on the BJP-Left parties. Trinamool's Shashi Panja said, ten of their workers were killed.
Farce happened in the name of vote: Governor
Angered by the violence, Governor CV Anandabose said that a farce is going on here in the name of votes. He visited several polling booths in North 24 Parganas district to instil confidence among the people. He said that people have complained about not being allowed to go to the polling booth.
letter to chief justice for cancellation of election
The BJP and the Congress have written to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court requesting him to take suo motu cognizance of the violence and cancel the elections. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Shubhendu Adhikari has demanded imposition of President's rule in the state and a CBI and NIA inquiry into the violence.
Not good for democracy: Congress
Congress spokesperson Pawan Kheda said that gaining power with the weapon of fear is not good for democracy. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary alleged that both Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee are colluding in the elections. We had already suspected that there is a collusion between the ruling party and the police in Bengal.
