Kolkata Police has dismissed reports of unrest in the West Bengal capital as “fake and misleading” news, after Mamata Banerjee refused to resign as chief minister following a harsh defeat in the Assembly elections.
While some post-election violence was reported in West Bengal, where a BJP member and a Trinamool Congress worker were reportedly killed in two separate incidents on Tuesday. BJP worker Madhu Mondal died after being beaten up by TMC workers during the victory parade in New Town area, news agency PTI reported.
Meanwhile, TMC worker Abeer Shaikh was allegedly stabbed to death by BJP activists at Nanoor in Birbhum earlier on Tuesday, police were quoted as saying.
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The Election Commission on Tuesday directed West Bengal Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariyala, Director General Syed Nath Gupta and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to implement a zero-tolerance policy towards any post-poll violence incident in the state. This directive came after two people were killed in separate violent incidents in the state. In addition, several party officers were looted on Tuesday.
Kolkata Police denies ‘false’ reports
However, Kolkata Police shared screenshots of X’s posts, saying that the Indian Army entered Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee was injured, CRPF forces attacked her house, TMC workers were victims, and BJP workers attacked and burned houses and shops. The police sealed all these posts and reports as “fake.”
“Several misleading posts are being circulated on social media by linking irrelevant videos and photos from other places in Kolkata after the election results,” Kolkata Police said.
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The police also stated that they are closely monitoring the circulation of such content on social media, warning that “strict legal action” will be taken against those who spread misinformation and attempt to disrupt public peace.
“The situation in Kolkata is under complete control. Citizens are requested not to believe or share unverified posts,” the city police added.
Again, in a separate post on Wednesday morning, the Kolkata Police refused to circulate a purported advisory from its offices, regarding the law and order situation in Ripon Street, Janbazar and its surrounding areas.
“This advice is false and misleading,” she said. The city police informed that the law and order situation in Kolkata, within its jurisdiction, remains “absolutely normal and is under continuous and vigilant monitoring”.
The police confirmed that strict legal action is being taken against those responsible for spreading false information in the name of the Kolkata Police Commissioner.
She added: “We advise citizens to rely only on official sources to obtain verified updates.”
TMC claims bulldozer action in party office
Tensions are rising in the air in West Bengal, with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC alleging a “bulldozer action” by the BJP at the party office.
The TMC criticized the BJP’s ‘Poriburton’ (Change) slogan, saying that change had arrived with a bulldozer.
Read also | ‘Loot 100 seats’: Mamata vows to fight from the streets, says victory ‘morally ours’
In a post on
She also alleged that BJP national leaders have given their workers “license to go out on the streets” and “kill whomever they please”.
Mamata says he “will not resign” and “did not lose” the polls
TMC chief and outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would not step down from office following her party’s defeat in the Assembly elections, alleging that the result was a “conspiracy” and not a mandate of the people.
She alleged that the elections were not conducted fairly and accused the BJP of unnecessary interference and using central forces to “control” the elections “by force”.
Banerjee stressed that the TMC will challenge the election results and continue its political battle. She said: “There is no doubt that I will resign. We were defeated not by a general mandate but by a conspiracy.”
“We fought like tigers and we will come back, but the direct intervention of this government raises deep concerns,” Banerjee added.
