After a few peaceful hours, several cases of violence are being reported amid the second phase of polling in West Bengal. Nandigram, where incumbent CM Mamata Banerjee is facing BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, is also voting today.
Agitation by the voters has been reported from East Midnapore where the police have been accused of not allowing locals to cast their vote. The roads have been allegedly blocked by tree trunks in some areas at Moyna Bakcha.
In another update from Keshpur, BJP leader Tanmay Ghosh’s car has been vandalized by alleged TMC goons and was stopped from entering the polling booth. Upon trying to register a complaint with the local police, Tanmay alleged that the police refused to take his complaint.
BJP polling agent allegedly beaten up. BJP leader Tanmay Ghosh’s car has also been vandalised in Keshpur.
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) April 1, 2021
(@PoulomiMSaha )#WestBengalElections #WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/kQ0flComXw
In another incident, a woman polling booth agent of BJP in Keshpur was beaten up by alleged TMC workers and has been rushed to the hospital for treatment. BJP says that the situation is extremely tense in the area for now.
West Bengal: BJP polling agent at booth number 173 in Keshpur beaten up allegedly by TMC workers. The polling agent has been rushed to a hospital. BJP leader Tanmay Ghosh’s car vandalised
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021
Details awaited
A BJP karyakarta who was allegedly facing threats from TMC workers was found dead near a polling booth in Nandigram. BJP has blamed TMC threats for the death, allegedly a suicide. The police are investigating the matter while the locals have boycotted voting in the area after the body was found.
Bharti Ghosh, a BJP candidate from Debra constituency has alleged that her polling agent in Nawapara is being prevented from going to the booth and is surrounded by TMC goons, as per a Jagran report.
Not just the BJP but even CPIM workers alleged that they were being stopped by TMC workers at Ghatal while they were on their way to cast vote. The spot was cleared by the security forces who removed the road blockades.
West Bengal: CPIM workers agitated at Ghatal today, alleged that they were being stopped by TMC workers as they were on their way to cast their vote
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021
Later, security forces reached the spot and removed the road blockade pic.twitter.com/pZvC8BQMxz
Amidst the reports of violence, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has decided to stay in Nandigram till tomorrow as opposed to her original plan of leaving at 04:00 pm today.
13.14% voter turnout was recorded till 9 am in the second phase of polling West Bengal. Voting is being held for a total of 30 seats in the four districts of the state which include East and West Midnapore, Bankura and South 24 Parganas.
