West Bengal Panchayat Polls: TMC Activists Resort To Violence, Capture Booths As Voting Begins

Protesters in South 24 Parganas district blocked roads in the area after Trinamool Congress (TMC) members allegedly captured booths in the Prathmik Vidyalaya (primary school) of Bhangar II block, the Indian Express has reported.

The two booths captured by the TMC goons lie in the constituency of Hakibul Islam, former TMC legislator Arabul Islam’s son. Arabul Islam, who was suspended from the party in 2013 but was back in business within a year-and-a-half, was on Friday arrested for the alleged murder of kin of an independent candidate. Crude bombs were found buried in a mango orchard just a few meters behind his home.

The booths in the area were captured by TMC goons after clashes between the members of the Jomi Jibika Poribesh O Bastutantra Andolan Committee (JJPOBC) and the Mamata Banerjee-led party which has been accused of resorting to violence to prevent opposition candidates from filing nomination papers.

In one case, goons of the party assaulted and stripped a photojournalist trying to take pictures of party men preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations.

The Supreme Court, which had stayed the Calcutta High Court's order on electronic filing of nominations, has expressed concern after at least 34 per cent seats were won by the ruling party without a contest.

“We are patrolling with forces. We have detained a couple of people. The situation is under control so the voters can continue to vote and have nothing to fear,” said Additional Superintendent of Police Baruipur Sandeep Mondal.