West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has expressed concern over the pre-poll violence in the run up to the panchayat elections in the state. In a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan, Bose said that he was "shocked" at the increasing death toll in Bengal due to poll-related violence. The West Bengal panchayat elections are scheduled on July 8.
"Shocked to hear that the death toll in pre-election in Bengal is increasing. It is revolting that the media is also under attack by the hooligans. Victory in Elections should depend on the count of votes, not the count of dead bodies. At any cost, violence will be eradicated and made the first casualty of this Panchayat Elections. No one, howsoever high & mighty they fancy themselves to be, will be allowed to take the law in their hands," the statement by West Bengal Raj Bhavan read.
The pre-poll violence is increasing by the day in Bengal, with the Opposition — comprising the BJP, the Congress, and the CPI(M) — and the ruling Trinamool Congress trading blames. On Thursday, Three people were shot dead and several others injured in two districts of West Bengal amid violence over filing of nominations for the panchayat elections. Two of the victims were killed at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, while another was gunned down by miscreants at Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur district.
According to CPI(M), the deceased were supporters of the Left Front and the Congress, who were shot at when they were on their way to filing nominations.
CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim alleged that the Trinamool Congress was behind the attack. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, "Activists and candidates have been fired upon by TMC goons just now in North Dinajpur's Chopra block. Left-INC supporters were going to Block office for filing nomination #PanchayatElection2023."
Massive violence was also reported from Bhangar Block-2 after the panchayat nomination ended filing ended at 3 pm. Unidentified miscreants bombed and set bikes on fire, as per reports. Another clash broke out between two groups in the South 24 Pargana during the filing of nominations for the panchayat polls, said the police. The mob also attacked police personnel as well, who received minor injuries and were undergoing treatment.
COURT ORDERS DEPLOYMENT OF CENTRAL FORCES, TMC REACTS
In the wake of the violence, the Calcutta High Court asked State Election Commission (SEC) to deploy central forces in all districts within 48 hours. The order came after the SEC filed a review petition in the Calcutta High Court against the order of a Division Bench for the deployment of central armed forces in the state ahead of the polls. Observing that it is an admitted fact there is sensitivity in places, the high court said that the SEC cannot say that it is still "trying to identify those areas".
Reacting to the court's order, TMC leader Madan Mitra said, "I don't know how many thousands of crores will be spent on these central forces where West Bengal is not getting a single penny for the development of the state... We will face the central forces, but we will prove that TMC will win... we are ready to face the torture of central forces..."