In Cooch Behar, BJP, TMC trade assault & intimidation charges; 460 complaints filed

OVER 460 COMPLAINTS of violence, intimidation, and assault were reported during the first phase of voting for Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal Friday. The EC, however, said the voting was peaceful with overall 77.57% estimated voter turnout in the three seats of Cooch Behar (SC reserved), Alipurduar (ST reserved), and Jalpaiguri (SC reserved).

Cooch Behar, where a maximum number of 112 companies of CAPF have been deployed, reported most incidents of violence. The EC received 218 complaints from the TMC and BJP from Cooch Behar alone.

In Sitalkuchi area of Cooch Behar, where four persons were killed in CISF firing during the 2021 state Assembly polls, the TMC alleged that BJP workers thrashed its polling agents and voters were stopped from entering booths. The BJP, on the other hand, alleged that TMC workers pelted stones at them.

In the Mathabhanga area, a minor clash broke out between TMC and BJP workers following allegations of voter intimidation.

At Chandmari, BJP workers alleged TMC workers had taken control of polling stations and were not allowing voters to enter booths. The TMC, however, denied the charge. Bombs were reportedly recovered from the residence of a BJP booth president in Dinhata -II and a TMC polling camp in Sitai was also attacked.

Sources said a police team found nine explosives just 200m from a polling booth in Falimari village of Cooch Behar.

Meanwhile, TMC block president from Bethaguri, Anant Barman, was hospitalised after allegedly being beaten up by BJP members. TMC minister Udayan Guha, who faced protests from a section of women voters in his Dinhata Assembly segment following the arrest of a local BJP worker, accused the BJP of unleashing “a reign of terror” with the help of Central forces.

Union minister and sitting BJP MP Nisith Pramanik, who is seeking reelection from Cooch Behar, said, “Sensing defeat, the TMC is trying to intimidate voters by instigating its workers against us.”

In Jalpaiguri, BJP MLA Shikha Chatterjee got into a scuffle with TMC supporters near a polling booth in Siliguri. While the EC received over 100 complaints from Jalpaiguri, there were 150 complaints lodged in Alipurduar.

“The BJP has understood they are losing. Their loss has been guaranteed because the people of West Bengal know how they have been deprived of their rights,” state Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said.