In the morning hours of the 8th of July 2023, polling for Panchayat elections started in West Bengal amid heavy security from Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF). The elections have witnessed large-scale violence, with several cases of murders, booth capturing, and various other kinds of violence.
While some reports have claimed that the death count has crossed 36, there are reports of countless incidences of violence, arson, armed men threatening the general voters, and miscreants stealing away ballot boxes.
BJP’s Bengal unit has shared a video in which some goons can be seen brandishing guns and pelting stones. Along with the purported video, the main opposition party has claimed that around 36 people have lost their lives in the ongoing Panchayat elections in the state.
Tragic toll in Panchayat elections continues to rise, with 36 lives lost so far. Shockingly, 15 more lives have been claimed, adding to the grim tally.
— BJP Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) July 8, 2023
Disturbing video depicts rampant violence fueled by firearms. Mamata Banerjee and her complicit Election Commission are… pic.twitter.com/Ld2w1bEyBi
In a video shared by BJP’s Bengal Unit and there are some additional videos doing round on social media, where some miscreants can be seen running away with purported ballot boxes.
In a desperate bid for victory, risking their lives, they are seen running with the ballot box!
— BJP Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) July 8, 2023
This mockery of the voting process raises the question: Is such an election necessary? Simply declaring oneself as the winner would have sufficed. pic.twitter.com/Fxtmaxbww1
Some residents of Dhamsa in Hooghly allegedly threw two ballot boxes in a pond after a scuffle broke out between TMC and BJP workers at a polling booth. Additionally, the residents allege that Central forces were not deployed at the polling centre.
#WATCH | West Bengal panchayat election | Residents of Dhamsa in Hooghly throw two ballot boxes in a pond allegedly after scuffle between TMC and BJP workers at a polling booth. The residents allege that Central forces were not deployed at the centre. pic.twitter.com/VIQ2FPhUfw
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023
Similar instances of destruction or tampering with ballot boxes were reported in several parts of the state. As per ANI, voting was suspended at the Indreshwar primary school in Dinhata after some miscreants pour water into the ballot box here.
#WATCH | West Bengal panchayat election | Voting suspended at Indreshwar primary school in Dinhata after water was thrown into the ballot box here. pic.twitter.com/1CKYjmsgoH
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023
In areas of the Cooch Behar district, a few Ballot boxes at a polling booth in Baranachina of Dinhata were set on fire allegedly by voters who were angry with bogus voting that was reportedly going on there.
#WATCH | West Bengal panchayat election | Ballot box at a polling booth in Baranachina of Dinhata in Cooch Behar district was set on fire allegedly by voters who were angry with bogus voting that was reportedly going on here. pic.twitter.com/6C5aC00uac
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023
In a few other videos, some miscreants have been seen allegedly hurling crude bombs.
यह बंगाल का दृश्य है, जहां आज चुनाव है ..
— BJP JHARKHAND (@BJP4Jharkhand) July 8, 2023
जहां पर ममता दीदी के राज में यहां बम फेंके जा रहे हैं, कोर्ट के आदेश की अवहेलना की जा रही है..
आखिर क्यों ममता दीदी लोकतंत्र की दुहाई देती है जब वह निष्पक्ष चुनाव नहीं करा सकती? pic.twitter.com/7A0nJHmzab
#WATCH | West Bengal panchayat election | Spot where a clash erupted between Congress and TMC workers and bombs were hurled.
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023
Visuals from Balutola in Gopalpur Panchayat of Malda. pic.twitter.com/Y9QNGAlB07
BJP State President Dr. Sukanta Majumdar has shared a video in which Police officials are recovering a ballot box from a drain in North 24 Pargana district.
Police recovers a ballot box from a drain in North 24 Pargana district.
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) July 8, 2023
No where in the country we see this kind of open mockery of the democracy like in West Bengal.
How can you ensure now that this election is free and fair ? @CEOWestBengal
pic.twitter.com/HSL1e90vb6
As per ANI, incidences of stone pelting and hurling of crude bombs were reported at booth numbers 25 and 26 in the Nagharia area of English Bazar in Malda district.
#WATCH | West Bengal Panchayat election | Stone pelting and hurling of bombs reported at booth numbers 25 and 26 in Nagharia area of English Bazar in Malda district. Police personnel present at the spot. Injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/VyHrze28aI
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023
West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary accused the TMC of unleashing a rain of terror.
He said, “The ruling party’s incoherence with the police administrations…has unleashed a rain of terror in an unprecedented way, which has taken a toll on 26 people, and hundreds of people are fatally injured have been admitted to the hospital already. The political and electoral environment in Bengal has been of violence. It is a travesty of panchayat elections and virtually it is an example of electoral depredations.”
#WATCH | Murshidabad: "The ruling party's incoherence with the police administrations…has unleashed a rain of terror in an unprecedented way, which has taken a toll on 26 people and hundreds of people are fatally injured have been admitted to the hospital already. The political… pic.twitter.com/3r9qTwUTMW
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023
West Bengal LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, “This is not an election, this is death. There is a fire of violence across the state. Central forces have not been deployed. CCTVs are not operating. This is not voting but loot. This is the collusion of TMC goons and Police and that is why so murders are happening.”
#WATCH | West Bengal panchayat election | West Bengal LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, "This is not an election, this is death. There is a fire of violence across the state. Central forces have not been deployed. CCTVs are not operating. This is not voting but… pic.twitter.com/7XOAiG4V1S
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023
The leader of the Opposition further claimed that the governor made the biggest mistake by appointing Rajiva Sinja. He also urged the Central government to intervene either with Article 355 or 356.
#CORRECTION | Nandigram,WB: "…The governor made the biggest mistake by appointing Rajiva Sinha (State Election Commissioner)…It is 3 pm & over 15 people have died, they were killed by TMC goons…Centre should intervene with either Article 355 or 356…we want action from…
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023
TMC hooliganism has crossed all the limits and is now stifling democracy by looting Ballots openly in the West Bengal Panchayat elections.
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) July 8, 2023
This is a video from booth No . 44 & 45 of the Kholakhali, Nurpur Panchayat. @ECISVEEP @MamataOfficial @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/N6q4CQ1m88
Earlier in the day, Bengal BJP President Majumdar shared a video on Twitter alleging that TMC goons are openly looting ballots at booth No. 44 and 45 in Kholakhali.
#WATCH | West Bengal #PanchayatElection | Abdullah, the booth agent of an independent candidate killed in Pirgachha of North 24 Parganas district. Villagers stage a protest and demand the arrest of the accused and allege that the husband of TMC candidate Munna Bibi is behind the… pic.twitter.com/XHu1Rcpv6j
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2023
There are many more videos reflecting the sorry state of affairs in West Bengal but these videos of politically motivated violence are too disturbing and heart-wrenching to be shared.
