Pre-poll violence continues in Bengal

Violence over filing of nominations for panchyat polls in West Bengal continued for the sixth day on Saturday. Clashes between Trinamool Congress supporters and various Opposition parties took place in Birbhum, Murshidabad, Paschim Bardhaman and Uttar Dinajpur districts.

CPI(M) MLA and Leader of the Left Legislative Party Sujan Chakraborty was attacked by TMC cadres in Bankura district during the day. “I participated in a rally of Left Front candidates who were on their way to file nominations when armed TMC cadres in collusion with police attacked us. I was also assaulted by them,” Mr. Chakraborty told The Hindu.

Superintendent of Police of Bankura Sukhendu Hira, however, said “no one got injured” in the incident.

Clashes between supporters of Trinamool Congress and BJP were reported from the Mohammad Bazar area of Birbhum. Large number of BJP workers armed with bows and arrows overpowered TMC supporters and reached Sub Divisional Officer’s office to file nominations. Local television channels showed TMC workers hurling bombs at the BJP cadres who retaliated with arrows.

Anuj Sharma, Additional Director General ( Law and Order) said outsiders from Jharkhand were involved in the violence in the border district of Birbhum.

Violence was also reported from Kandi in Murshidabad where a Congress rally led by State president and MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was attacked by TMC workers. In Hooghly district’s Arambagh, former All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) MLA Biswanath Karak was heckled and assaulted by TMC cadres when he accompanied AIFB candidates during filing of nominations. Mr. Karak’s face was smeared with black ink.

State Election Commissioner A.K. Singh who held a meeting with election observers on Saturday asked them to remain upright and discharge their duties with honesty.