Bengal Poll Violence: 'Fake Agent, Bombing, Voter Intimidation' Charges Continue In Phase 3 Voting

Bengal Lok Sabha Polls: Several incidents of violence, forgery, and voter intimidation have surfaced at various polling booths in West Bengal.

Bengal Poll Violence: Allegations of voter intimidation, bombing, etc have marred the third phase of polling in Bengal. ( Image Source :PTI )

Incidents of violence continued to haunt West Bengal in the Lok Sabha poll phase 3 voting. Polling booths in Murshidabad's Lochanpur and Jangipur saw clashes involving three of the major parties of the state — CPI-M, TMC, and BJP. The first two phases in Bengal also saw violence in Bengal.

In Lochanpur, CPI-M's Murshidabad candidate Mohammed Salim alleged that a 'fake agent' of CPI-M had been installed at a polling booth after the 'real' representative of the party was thrashed and forced to flee. The alleged incident occurred in front of central forces at booth number 36 in the Lochanpur area of Raninagar block of Domkal subdivision. Mohammed Salim claimed Trinamool workers sat in the booth pretending to be CPI-M agents. The 'fake' agent allegedly forged Salim's signature in his documents. 

Salim said the 'real' CPI-M agent Mostakin Sheikh was hiding for about an hour at a banana plantation in a nearby village Paharpur, 3 kilometres away. The agent was then arranged to be taken back to the booth. Salim was seen dragging the 'fake agent' out of the booth.

According to the Election Commission, two agents wanted to sit during the mock poll. But since only one representative per candidate is allowed, the sector officer expelled one of them. "There is no difference between goons and police," Salim said accusing the TMC of intimidating voters.

Jangipur Clash

In the other incident, a TMC booth president clashed with BJP candidate Dhananjay Ghosh at a polling booth in Murshidabad's Jangipur. Dhananjay Ghosh said, "I am a BJP candidate and I have been threatened by TMC's booth agent... If a candidate is treated like this, what is happening to the common people? We will complain about this to the Election Commission."

#WATCH | Murshidabad, West Bengal: During the third phase of voting for the Lok Sabha Elections, a TMC booth president clashed with BJP candidate Dhananjay Ghosh at a polling booth in Jangipur. #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/RF7U7NX5h3

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024

TMC leader Gautam Ghosh alleged that Dhananjay Ghosh was intimidating voters. Following the altercation central forces removed both leaders. from the area. 

Congress Leaders' Home Bombed

A rude bomb was allegedly hurled at a Congress leader's house in Murshidabad's Hariharpara in the Berhampore subdivision. The Congress alleged the TMC's hand in the incident. It is alleged that the motive behind the attack was to intimidate voters. Following the incident, the Hariharpara police promptly responded by reaching the location upon receiving the information.

Lok Sabha Polls Voting Phase 3 In Bengal

Four seats in West Bengal are up for grabs today — Malda North, Malda South, Jangipur, and Murshidabad. 

Malda North candidates: Mostaque Alam (Congress), Khagen Murmu (BJP), Prasun Banerjee (Trinamool Congress)

Malda South candidates: Isha Khan Choudhury (Congress), Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury (BJP), and Shahnawaz Ali Raihan (TMC)

Jangipur candidates: Mortaza Hossain Bokul (Congress), Dhananjay Ghosh (BJP), and Khalilur Rahaman (TMC)

Murshidabad: Mohammed Salim (CPI-M), Abu Taher Khan (TMC), and Gouri Shankar Ghosh (BJP)

Bengal polled 15.85% votes till 9 AM.