Kolkata: The political row over the deployment of Central forces in West Bengal during the polls intensified on Wednesday with TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee accusing the forces of behaving like the BJP’s private army and manhandling citizens, alleging that such action led to the death of an elderly man in Udinarayanpur.
In X’s post, he claimed that the central forces manhandled the man and his son, who were there to vote. He added that after the incident, the man collapsed and was declared dead on arrival, claiming that the forces had “unleashed on the people of Bengal” to suppress the democratic process of elections.
“The central forces under Amit Shah became the BJP’s private army – a gang of licensed thugs was unleashed on the people of Bengal. In Udinarayanpur, an old man went to cast his vote with his son. His son tried to help him get into the booth because he was so weak that he could not walk without assistance. The central forces pushed them both and manhandled them. The old man collapsed, was taken to Amta Hospital and was declared dead on arrival. From dawn, these central forces were They terrorize ordinary citizens, slap women, assault the elderly, and even attack children.”
He recalled the Sitalkochi incident of 2021, describing the current situation as “the Sitalkochi mentality of 2021: cold-blooded and merciless violence against defenseless civilians.”
Sitalcochi witnessed violence during the 2021 Assembly elections. Four people were killed in central forces’ firing there in the fourth phase of polling. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) said its personnel opened fire in self-defense after a crowd of people attacked them and tried to steal their weapons.
“The BJP paid a heavy price in the blood of innocent people in 2021. They will pay a heavy price in 2026,” he said.
Banerjee warned the elements on the ground, whom he referred to as “executioners,” and pledged legal accountability for any violations committed.
“And to the wandering Bengali Jalades: It doesn’t matter which state you come from. It doesn’t matter who is protecting you from his political patronage. Every one of you involved in this barbarity will be pursued and forced to face the full force of the law. Your reign of terror will end in utter destruction,” he added.
The deployment of central forces became a point of tension during the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claiming that “outsider observers” and police officers unfamiliar with Bengal were deployed in a way that was targeting Trinamool Congress workers.
Another incident that sparked a row was when the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted a search operation in Valta Assembly constituency under the leadership of Ajay Pal Sharma, the election observer for the West Bengal elections, and in turn sparked a protest when TMC supporters gathered outside the office of party candidate Jahangir Khan, raising slogans against the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) while the search was being conducted.
Trinamool Congress supporters staged protests, accusing the Election Commission-appointed police observer of “intimidating” party workers ahead of the second phase of polls. Senior party leaders and state ministers also alleged that the Uttar Pradesh IPS officer was exceeding his role.
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal assured citizens of a safe voting environment, noting that state police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed across the state to maintain law and order.
The final phase of polling for the West Bengal Assembly elections concluded at 6 pm, with voter turnout reaching 90% before the closing hour.
