A CANDIDATE was allegedly attacked, a three-year-old girl injured when her home was ransacked and at least two bombs flung near polling booths. Despite these incidents, described by police as “stray”, voting took place briskly and in relative peace at North-24 Parganas on Monday — the fourth phase of the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal.
Though an unprecedented presence of central forces’ personnel prevented any major violence — parties, across the spectrum, remained on tenterhooks. Never before, they claimed, had voters been this “covert”.
People began queuing up to vote as early as 6.30 am. All parties had issued the standard instructions — vote early and don’t let anyone else cast your vote. By 9 am, the turnout was 22.63 per cent. By 11 am, over 40 per cent of the district had voted.
Ramapada Biswas, a voter at Birati, said: “Voting early isn’t just about the weather. In the afternoon, booths are empty. But that is also when chappa votes or booth jamming takes place. The easiest way to ensure you cast your vote is by turning up early.”
Claiming that electoral malpractices and allegations versus counter allegations were a part of the electoral process in the state, the school master added: “It did not happen in a day or even a year. It has been around from the beginning… No matter how hard the Election Commission tries, the political culture of Bengal won’t change in a year. What we are doing instead, is holding our cards close to the chest. Let the parties think what they want.”
3-year-old daughter, who were allegedly attacked by TMC workers, to a polling booth in Bijpur on Monday.
However, after violence in the third phase of polling left at least two CPM workers dead, the EC was taking no chances. An unprecedented 90,000 security personnel, including from the central armed forces, have been deployed in North-24 Parganas and Howrah which voted on Monday.
But incidents of violence and allegations, as many voters had predicted, were inevitable. Around 9.45 am, the Left alleged that Trinamool Congress workers had attacked a three-year-old in Bijpur — from where party vice-president Mukul Roy’s son Subhrangshu is contesting.
The minor, Sayantika, was allegedly flung aside while Trinamool workers attacked her home, the Left claimed.
“Our home was attacked by Trinamool goons. They came armed and flung a bomb near our home. They said the central forces will only stay for a bit and then, we will have to live with the Trinamool. What then? Who will protect us?” said Debashree Ghosh, the girl’s mother.
Eventually, the police and central forces managed to convince the family to vote. They were escorted to the polling booth in an armed convoy. “We will provide you with necessary protection and deploy some men at your residence. Meanwhile, we are taking out regular patrols,” promised Barrackpore DCP Awadhesh Pathak. Police added that at least two bombs were hurled outside a booth at the adjacent Halishar area.
In Dum Dum North, CPM candidate Tanmay Bhattacharya sustained injuries on his hand after “a brick was hurled at his car, shattering the glass”. He claimed a Trinamool-backed goon, Tyapa, attacked him. “I was on my way to visit a polling agent, who has been attacked. A brick was pelted towards my car. I will inform the EC. This the kind of democracy that Trinamool is trying to establish?” Bhattacharya asked.
Three persons were arrested in the case, Barrackpore Police Commissioner Niraj Singh said. He added that so far, at least 231 people had been arrested in poll-related incidents, like violation of Section 144, intimidation of voters or booth jamming.