Kolkata: FIR against TMC councillors for breaching regulations, gathering a mob outside Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office

FIR against TMC councillors for unlawful assembly outside the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office.
Screenshot of the video.

On 2nd April (Thursday), a First Information Report has been filed against multiple individuals, including two TMC councillors, for disobeying police directives, raising slogans and gathering illegally outside the state’s Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office on 13 Strand Road, Fairlie Place, in Kolkata.

The Trinamool leaders have been identified as Ward 36 councillor Sachin Singh and Ward 32 councillor Shanti Ranjan Kundu. According to the officials, six prominent people are named in the official complaint, while several others are listed as unnamed. Moidul, Mohammad Wasim, Chandrakanta Singh and Mohammad Rizwan Ali have also been booked by the police.

“Councillor Beleghata with some hooligans gheraoed the office of CEO and shouted slogans at the dead of night. Such anti-social activities will not be tolerated, and law will take its own course. ECI will leave no stone unturned to ensure free and fair assembly elections,” CEO West Bengal posted on social media, a day earlier.

“Despite repeated requests and lawful directions issued by the police to disperse, they willfully refused to comply and continued their unlawful activities, thereby deterring public servants from discharging their lawful duties. Furthermore, the assembly partially obstructed the public road, causing disruption to normal traffic and public movement. They were also raising provocative and intimidating slogans against the CEO, West Bengal. Thereby committed the crime,” the FIR read.

The group assembled to demonstrate against the submission of Form 6 applications outside the CEO’s office, which is located beneath the Hare Street police station. On 31st March (Tuesday), a group of BLOs, supported by the ruling TMC, rallied in front of the place over alleged manipulation of voter lists and engaged in altercations with BJP members and police. The police asserted that they breached regulations by convening in front of the election office without authorisation.

An official mentioned, “The situation turned tense for a while as the gathering continued despite instructions to disperse.” CEO Manoj Agarwal declared, “Section 163 has been imposed in the area by the Kolkata Police Commissioner. It is the responsibility of the police to maintain order. If they fail, the Commission will take necessary action.”

Citing an imminent risk to law and order, the government on Wednesday partially changed the boundaries of the BNSS Section 163 area encompassing the CEO’s office. Similar protests by Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) supporters in front of the CEO’s office resulted in altercations with security guards.

To identify people involved in the latest demonstration and suspected disruption, local CCTV footage is being analysed as the matter continues to be under investigation.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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