July 15th 2023.
West Bengal witnessed a rise in incidents of poll-related violence on Saturday, particularly in Garbeta, West Midnapore and Amta. According to a complaint lodged by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), their polling agent was brutally attacked by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters and forced to drink urine. The victim and BJP state vice president, Samit Kumar Das, narrated the incident, stating that their agent was taken to a TMC victory rally and was beaten with a tree log. When the agent pleaded for water, he was allegedly offered urine instead. The perpetrators of the incident were reportedly intoxicated, leading Das to question the extent to which the TMC would stoop.
The ruling Trinamool Congress denied the allegations and dismissed them as an attempt to malign their image. In Amta, houses belonging to BJP supporters were set ablaze on Friday evening. The incidents of violence and allegations have further intensified the tension surrounding the ongoing polls in West Bengal.
Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, visited Amta on Saturday to assess the situation. He accused the Trinamool Congress of attempting a violent episode similar to the Borgtui incident, and alleged that the Block Development Officer and the police were assisting the TMC in carrying out the violence. He also pledged assistance to the affected individuals and visited Baruipur in South 24 Parganas to meet displaced party workers who had sought refuge in the party office due to fear of further violence.
In Salar, Murshidabad, two minor boys were severely injured after playing with a bomb, mistaking it for a ball. Upon his return from the national capital, when questioned about the ongoing violence, BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar commented that the implementation of Article 355 was dependent on the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Home Minister.
In response to Adhikari's statements, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused Adhikari of intentionally inciting violence in the state.
Despite the violence, 36.36% of voters turned out for the West Bengal Panchayat Polls on Saturday. This turnout was slightly higher than expected, and shows an increasing trend in voter participation. It is hoped that the violence will cease and the polls will be conducted without further disruption.
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