West Bengal Polling: CISF Issues Clarification Over Cooch Behar Violence, Says 'Opened Fire In Self Defence After Being Attacked By Mob'

Five people were killed, including four in the firing by CISF personnel, during the fourth phase of polling on Saturday for 44 assembly seats of West Bengal, triggering a political firestorm.

Security forces deployed at polling station in Bengal (Image: PTI)

Violence rocked Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi assembly constituency in poll-bound West Bengal on Saturday resulting in five casualties. An 18-year-old first-time voter was reportedly shot dead while in another incident, four people were killed, police officials said. Polling at Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi station has been adjourned while the Election Commission has sought a report in the matter by 5 pm.

 

According to news agency ANI,  CISF opened fire outside a polling booth during the fourth phase of assembly elections in the state which resulted in such huge violence amid polling.

However, CISF has issued a clarification over the issue and stated that the security forces were attacked by a huge mob and the firing was done in self defence.

 

The CISF statement read," around 9:35 am on Saturday,  near Booth No 126, QRT( Quick Reaction Team) of CISF 567/C headed by Coy Commander Insp/E Sunil Kumar was attacked by a mob of miscreants about 50 to 60 in numbers while they were taking a round of area along with local police representative to clear public who was resisting voters from reaching polling booths. In the melee, one child fell down and miscreants started damaging the vehicle of QRT and attacked the QRT personnel. QRT reacted in self-defense and fired six rounds in the air to disperse the Mob. Shri Deepak Kumar, DC Adhoc Comdt of 567 CISF reached the spot and pacified the mob. He then left.

The statement further said, "After an hour, another group of mob ( approx 150)  joined in and reached Booth No 186 and started manhandling the polling staff on duty at Booth. Firstly, they beat up the Home Guard and Asha workers who were present on the duty at the booth. CISF Booth Comdr tried to pacify the miscreants but the mob entered the polling booth and further started the other polling staff on duty. Few miscreants tried to snatch the weapons of CISF personnel deployed there. As a result, CISF personnel fired two rounds in the air but the mob didn't pay any heed to the warning."

"In the meantime, QRT of CISF and police also reached the spot. The mob further started advancing aggressively towards CISF personnel, therefore sensing imminent danger to their life,  they fired 7 more rounds towards the

advancing mob of miscreants. While the above incident was going on, more police parties also arrived at the booth. It is reported that in self-defence they also fired few rounds. As a result, few miscreants were injured and immediately the mob dispersed. The polling was halted. More police personnel have reached the spot. It is reported that 5 to 6 miscreants have sustained fatal injuries and further they succumbed to injuries."

'Didi & Her Goons Are Rattled Seeing Support For BJP, Stooped To This Level': PM Modi On Violence In WB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a rally in Bengal's Siliguri that the violence in Cooch Behar during the fourth phase election in West Bengal in which four voters, including an 18-year-old, were shot dead in separate incidents, was very unfortunate.

"My condolences are with their family members. Didi and her goons have become jittery seeing the people’s support in favour of the BJP. Seeing her rule coming to an end, didi has stooped to this level. But I would like to make it clear to the TMC that this won't work in Bengal. I urge the ECI to take stern actions against the guilty in the Cooch Behar case," PM Modi said adding, "This violence, inciting people against the central forces and creating hindrances in the poll process won't be able to save you didi".

TMC demands Amit Shah's resignation

Meanwhile, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee accused BJP of conspiracy over the Cooch Behar incident and TMC leaders will take out March demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation over the same issue. "Four of our innocent workers have been killed on instructions of Amit Shah. We will take out the protest march tomorrow at several locations and all of us will wear black badges. We still don’t know the names of those who fired at our workers," said Subrata Mukherjee

(with inputs from Manogya Loiwal)