Polling is underway for the nine Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal in the seventh phase on Saturday, marked by reports of violence and tension across various areas. In the Jadavpur constituency near Kolkata, clashes erupted in the Satuliya area of Bhangar between Indian Secular Front (ISF) and CPI(M) supporters, resulting in several injuries among ISF members. The confrontation was intensified by the use of country-made bombs.
In Kultali, South 24 Parganas district, an angry mob stormed polling stations, seizing an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and throwing it into a nearby pond. This incident followed allegations that some polling agents were barred from entering the booths. In response, local residents seized the EVM equipped with Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and discarded it.
The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal issued a statement regarding the incident: “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, 2 VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond…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.”
West Bengal: EVM machine was seen floating in water during voting in South 24 Parganas. pic.twitter.com/HInj1D7gLe
— IANS (@ians_india) June 1, 2024
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Tensions also flared in Sandeshkhali under Basirhat Lok Sabha late Friday night and continued into the early hours of polling. Local women, armed with bamboo sticks, protested against alleged threats from Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists and state police. They accused associates of the now-suspended Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan, who is currently imprisoned, of intimidating their families. The state police claimed the unrest began after local BJP supporters assaulted civic volunteers.
In Diamond Harbour, the stronghold of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, clashes broke out between TMC and BJP supporters. BJP candidate Abhijit Das accused TMC of malpractices, which TMC categorically denied.
