Phase 7 polls: EVM dumped in pond, bombs hurled as violence mars last day of polling in West Bengal

Several incidents of violence marred voting in the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha election held across nine constituencies in West Bengal, including two seats in Kolkata.

About 69.89% of polling was recorded across the nine constituencies till 5 p.m. While Kolkata Uttar, at 59.23%, recorded the lowest turnout, Basirhat recorded 76.56% polling, the highest. Mathurapur registered 73.44% voting, Jaynagar 73.44% and Diamond Harbour 72.87% polling till 5pm. Polling in Jadavpur was 70.41%, 60.88% in Kolkata Dakshin, 67.60% in Dum Dum and 71.80% in Barasat. The polling percentage is expected to rise as voting continued till 6 p.m.

The highest number of seats went to the polls in this phase. Despite the deployment of 967 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and 33,292 personnel of the State police, violence and unrest were reported across several areas. Many were injured in the violence that surpassed the six previous phases in magnitude.

Violence was reported in Sandeshkhali in Basirhat, Bhangar in Jadavpur, Kultali and Canning in Jaynagar, and parts of Diamond Harbour.

Clashes broke out between supporters of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress in several areas of Sandeshkhali. There was unrest in the Bermajur area with women supporters of the BJP alleging that they were beaten up by the police and security personnel. Women gathered outside the Rajbari outpost in Sandeshkhali and demanded the release of four arrested BJP supporters. While at Sheikhpara, Trinamool supporters alleged that they were attacked by the BJP workers, at Bayramari, the police and villagers were seen throwing stones at each other. The security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob.

Kultali in Jaynagar was on the boil since morning when villagers looted election material from a poll booth and dumped it in a pond. The incident occurred before voting began at 7 a.m. “Today morning at 6.40 a.m. reserve EVMs and papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC, has (sic) been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU, 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond,” the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) posted on social media. The CEO’s office said an FIR has been lodged by the Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. “Poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer,” a post on social media said.

A group of women in Kultali demanded that a police camp be set up to ensure their safety. The women demanded that EVM machines should be changed before voting. Canning, a town in South 24 Parganas district, witnessed violence where voters and a local television journalist were injured in stone pelting.

Bhangar, which falls under the Jadavpur seat, witnessed early morning violence with crude bombs being hurled. There were reports of violence between Trinamool supporters and workers of the Indian Secular Front. Responding to a tweet by BJP leader Amit Malaviya, the Kolkata Police took to social media and said that the incident happened in the morning around 6am, before the polling began. “Police and CAPF immediately intervened and have taken steps against miscreants. Legal action initiated,” police posted on social media. The other areas of Jadavpur seat, including Ganguly Bagan, witnessed violence where a camp office of the CPI(M) was attacked. Srijan Bhattacharya, the CPI(M) candidate from the seat, faced protests in the Baruipur area of the constituency.

Abhijit Das, the BJP candidate from the Diamond Harbour constituency, was confronted by Trinamool supporters at Falta. Mr. Das was confined to an area for several hours and he could not move across the constituency because of the protest. CPI(M) candidate from the seat, Pratikur Rahaman, was seen catching a fake polling agent outside a booth. The BJP’s candidate from Kolkata Uttar, Tapas Roy, also faced protests in three areas.

Violence was reported at Baranagar Assembly by-election held during the day. Tension prevailed in the area where a BJP party office was attacked and the CPI (M) candidate, Tanmay Bhattacharya, allegedly physically assaulted when he was standing outside a booth. Trinamool workers accused Mr. Bhattacharya of trying to influence the voters.

Prominent citizens of Kolkata, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, exercised their franchise at a polling booth in Mitra Institution in South Kolkata. The apathy of voters in urban areas of Kolkata was evident with the constituencies registering lower turnout than in the seats in the suburbs and the Sundarbans.

Published in :https://www.thehindu.com/