Bengal Panchayat Polls: Violence Across State as Nominations end; 1 Left, 1 ISF Worker Killed

Kolkata: The final day of filing nominations for the West Bengal panchayat elections was marred by violence and killings. The Left-Congress rally in

In Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur, a Left-Congress rally was allegedly fired upon by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters, killing Mansur Ali, a Left supporter. Several supporters of the Congress and Left suffered injuries.

In the afternoon, a clash between TMC and Indian Secular Front (ISF) was reported in Bhangor, leading to the an ISF worker being shot dead.

On Thursday, in Chopra, Left and Congress workers were taking out a march to submit their nominations, when there was a sudden firing on the procession. A CPI(M) worker in the rally told People’s Reporter, "We (Left and Congress supporters) were going to submit nominations to Chopra Block from Lal Bazar and Das Para of Chopra police station, but Trinamool activists blocked us almost every turn on the way."

He alleged, "The firing took place near the house of the local TMC MLA. Five people were reported to have been shot. Three of them were seriously injured and one of them died. As there are no vehicles around, the injured are being carried to the hospital,” adding that Left activists and supporters were “furious” over the role of the police.

Another injured Left worker told People’s Reporter that TMC workers had been telling them since the beginning that their nominations would not be submitted. “They had threatened us many times earlier. But we went ahead in a march to submit the nominations despite obstacles, and it is Trinamool (men) who fired at us,” he alleged.

However, according to unofficial local reports, two Left supporters were killed in the incident and at least 20 were injured.

Left candidates also faced obstacles in Barasat in North 24 Parganas and Bhangor in South 24 Parganas on the last day of filing nominations.  Several activists made similar allegations against TMC, saying that they sheltered miscreants and obstructed nominations being filed by the Opposition candidates.

Some Left activists People’s Reporter spoke with, accusing the police of remaining silent spectators. “The last two days (of nominations) were chaotic. Supporters of the ruling TMC were roaming around in the area with thick sticks. ISF supporters were also seen walking around with sticks,” they added.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary Mohd Salim called for demonstrations and protests against the Chopra incident in front of the State Election Commission’s office on Thursday.

Violence across the state has been reported since the first day of filing nominations in the panchayat elections. A Congress worker lost his life on the first day. A CPI(M) supporter was shot dead in Chopra, North Dinajpur, on Thursday. Opposition allegations are targeted toward the ruling TMC. While strongly condemning the killing in Chopra, Salim also expressed anger at the State Election Sommission and administration.

"Let there be a protest everywhere today against the indiscriminate firing of Trinamool thugs on the march of Left-Congress on the way to give nominations in Chopra and the police firing tear gas on the other side, killing and injuring our workers", Salim told reporters.

He said, "a section of the state police is cooperating with the Trinamool gangsters. And the State Election Commission is completely inactive and irresponsible. This one-sided attitude of the irresponsible administration under Mamata Banerjee has to pay the price".

The Left leadership said after the protest it would submit a memorandum to the SEC.

The Congress has already drawn the attention of the Chief Justice of the High Court to the Chopra incident. The Chief Justice's Division Bench has assured justice, said reports.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Calcutta High Court Justice Raja Shekhar Mantha directed that all Opposition candidates appearing before the court should be assisted in filing nominations and asked Kolkata Police to escort the Opposition candidates.