On Saturday (1st June), violence broke out in several parts of West Bengal as nine constituencies in the state are voting in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections. In West Bengal, incidents of violence have been reported in all seven phases, marring the polling process in the state which has been gripped by poll-related violence for more than a decade now. In the South Paraganas, a mob threw EVM and VVPAT machines in a pond, causing hindrance for the polling and security officials.
According to reports, a clash broke out between supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian Secular Front (ISF) at Bhangar in the Jadavpur constituency. Following the violent clashes, supporters of both parties hurled crude bombs at each other. Both the parties held a protest after the Police reached the spot. They raised allegations against each other which forced the Police to resort to lathi charges, disperse the mob, and bring the situation under control. The Police have also recovered some crude bombs from the area.
According to reports, an angry mob threw an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and VVPAT machine into the pond in West Bengal’s South Paraganas. It is alleged that some of the polling agents were not allowed to sit in the polling booth, after which the mob barged into the polling station, snatched the EVM and VVPAT machines, and threw them into the pond.
#Breaking | Phase 7 of #LokSabhaElections
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 1, 2024
An angry mob throws an EVM machine into the pond in West Bengal.
Some of the polling agents were not being allowed to sit in the polling booth, and thereafter the mob barged into the polling station, snatched the EVM VVPAD, and threw it… pic.twitter.com/BRXQq5MGzz
The incident unfolded at booth numbers 40 and 41 in the Kultali area in South 24 Parganas district where the mob threw an EVM and voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machine into the pond. However, the Election Commission stated that they were reserve machines, and the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) in West Bengal informed that an FIR had been filed in this matter.
VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: EVM and VVPAT machine were reportedly thrown in water by a mob at booth number 40, 41 in Kultai, South 24 Parganas, #WestBengal.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 1, 2024
(Source: Third Party)#LSPolls2024WithPTI #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/saFiNcG3e4
A Senior EC official clarified, “The polling process has not been vitiated. Those which were kept in reserve were thrown in water. We have sought a report from the presiding officer.”
Taking to X, the Chief Electoral Office, West Bengal wrote, “Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs & papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU, 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond. Sector Police was a little behind.”
(2/2)
— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) June 1, 2024
Sector Police was a little behind. FIR has been lodged by 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.
It added, “FIR has been lodged by Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. The poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer.”
The saffron party has alleged that in several areas voters are being intimidated to cast their votes in favour of the ruling Trinamool Congress.
In South Kolkata’s Muslim majority Kasba, TMC goons are standing near booths and intimidating voters to cast in favour of the TMC. BJP candidate Debasree Chaudhuri is on ground with QRT team and helping voters to come out. Mamata Banerjee knows South Kolkata is slipping…… pic.twitter.com/5MMTdIhLx7
— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) June 1, 2024
A thread on voting in #WestBengal 🧵
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) June 1, 2024
Bagha Jatin area in Kolkata’s Jadavpur. Naked intimidation. 1/n pic.twitter.com/ei0gfRsA9m
In a separate incident, TMC workers heckled BJP candidate Tapas Roy after he visited some polling booths at Cossipore in Kolkata Uttar constituency. The hecklers interrupted his visit and raised ‘go back’ slogans. According to the information received, goons brutally attacked a BJP Karyakarta in booth number 25 in the Sandeshkhali, Boyermari GP area.
Sandeshkhali, Boyermari GP, Booth 25. Goons have brutally attacked a BJP Karyakarta here. [Video by @DrArchanaWB] pic.twitter.com/qfknznDJQr
— Sudhanidhi Bandyopadhyay (@SudhanidhiB) June 1, 2024
BJP has alleged that while violent incidences have been reported in several parts of the state, the worst affected region is Diamond Harbour from where Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and heir apparent is contesting. Taking to X, Amit Malviya said that BJP workers are being intimidated, not allowed to sit in the booths, and their polling documents were destroyed. He alleged that West Bengal Police is acting like Abhishek Banerjee’s henchmen. Even the Muslims have not been spared because a large number of them are voting for CPI(M) candidate Pratikur Rahman. TMC’s ‘secularism’ dies the moment Muslims start voting against it, he added.
Democracy is up in flames in West Bengal. Bombs have been hurled in Jadavpur’s Bhangar, irate villagers in Joynagar’s Kultali have thrown an EVM and VVPAT machine in a pond because TMC goons won’t let them vote…
— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) June 1, 2024
But the worse affected is Diamond Harbour, where Mamata Banerjee’s… pic.twitter.com/csCl6ExQlj
In another tweet, BJP leader Malviya added that vigilant people foiled an attempt to capture Booth 271 in Diamond Harbour (West Bengal).
Attempt to capture Booth 271 in Diamond Harbour (West Bengal) foiled by vigilant people… Mamata Banerjee’s nephew is scared of losing. pic.twitter.com/UdTJ4Gz1hz
— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) June 1, 2024
It is alleged that in Bhawanipur, some people tried to abduct BJYM member Raghubir Singh from the BJP office.
In Bhawanipur, some people tried to abduct BJYM member Raghubir Singh from the BJP office. 4/n 🧵pic.twitter.com/ab0SmczESr
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) June 1, 2024
Furthermore, the Bharatiya Janata Party said that TMC workers and policemen threatened its polling agents on Friday night. It alleged that the TMC cadre and Policemen visited their homes in the Bermajur area in Sandeshkhali and threatened them. The saffron party shared video clips and said that the women of Sandeshkhali have once again protested against the TMC government’s move to terrorise the people ahead of the last phase of elections.
The brave women of #Sandeshkhali have chased away corrupt and compromised West Bengal Police. Our women leaders are speaking to them and each one of them will vote against the tyranny of Mamata Banerjee. This is a fight like none other and will be taken to logical conclusion…
— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) May 31, 2024
In the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections, voting is underway in nine seats in West Bengal amid tight security arrangements. These constituencies include Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat (under which Sandeshkhali falls), Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, and Kolkata Uttar seats.
