Crude bombs were hurled and shots were fired after a clash broke out on Sunday night between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and arch-rival BJP workers at Jagatdal in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to hold a public meeting on Monday.
Officials said that a paramilitary member was injured by shrapnel in his leg, and four people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence.
BJP leader Arjun Singh said the junta wanted to disrupt Modi’s public meeting by creating tension in the area and attacked their workers on Sunday evening. Arun Singh, who was sent from Noapara and his son from Bhatpara, both in Barrackpore, said: “They wanted to kill my son, Pawan Kumar Singh. They started pelting stones, and when we rushed to the spot, about four to five people arrived in a car and started firing and throwing improvised bombs near my son’s house. His security guard was injured.”
TMC candidate Sominath Shyam Ichney accused Arjun Singh of lying. “CCTV footage clearly reveals his role and how BJP workers under his leadership attacked TMC workers on Sunday. The BJP hurled bombs and fired gunshots. A soldier was injured by the bombs hurled by Singh’s men.”
In Bhangar, TMC candidate Suket Mola was allegedly attacked on Sunday night while returning from a public meeting. Mullah blamed the Indian Secular Front for the attack. TMC workers and supporters staged a demonstration outside Bijoyganj Bazar police station. There was no response from the Internal Security Forces.
On Sunday, police recovered about 100 crude bombs from a house in Bhangar, poll officials said. On Monday, about eight crude bombs were found at Habra in North 24 Parganas. The National Investigation Agency said on Monday that it had launched an investigation into the bombs found in Bhangar.
A poll official said a stern message was sent to the police. “…if any explosives are found or any threatening tactics are used…the officers in charge of the local police station will have to face the consequences and will not be rescued. Therefore, all threatening materials must be confiscated within the next 24 hours,” the survey official said.
In 2021, allegations of post-election violence emerged after the results were announced on May 2, and the Transitional Military Council returned to power for the third time in a row, winning 213 of the 294 seats in the council. The Calcutta High Court ordered a federal investigation into the allegations.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a warning against false voting ahead of polls across 142 Assembly seats in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections on Wednesday. She added that the AI-based webcast will identify anyone who attempts to vote twice and will face imprisonment for up to one year.
Ahead of the second phase, the Independent Electoral Commission intensified security arrangements to ensure free, fair and violence-free elections. A second election official said that webcasting was only installed inside polling stations in the first phase. In the second phase, cameras will be installed in corridors and walkways leading to polling stations, especially in crowded areas of Kolkata and Howrah. “Drones will be deployed to monitor the skies on polling day,” the second official said.
