Despite assurances to make this year’s assembly elections free of all forms of terror tactics employed by the TMC, the Central Election Commission (CEC) failed to live up to expectations as Trinamool Congress supporters and state police personnel were seen to be active in terrorising voters in many areas of Junglemahal where the first phase of poll started today.
In all, elections are being held in 18 assembly constituencies in three districts (West Medinipur-6, Purulia-9 and Bankura-3) of Junglemahal. By 11 am, in the first four hours of polling, 45 percent votes were cast, according to the EC.
But even as voting began a number of complaints started reaching the EC. Most of the complaints related to the passive role of the central paramilitary forces (CPMFs). While adequate central security forces were despatched to the Junglemahal, the overall deployment and management was left in the hands of the district administration.
Barracked Central Forces
As voting began, media reports indicated that some companies of central paramilitary forces had been barracked while the local police was put to use.
While this could give an unfair advantage to the ruling party – the local superintendent of police and district magistrate were said to be at the helm of deploying the security forces in gross violation of the EC’s general practice – what is inexplicable is the lack of strict monitoring by the poll panel.
In Lalgarh, Binpur, Dahijura in West Medinipur, Ranibandh, Taldangra, Balarampur in Bankura or Bandwan and Ragunathpur in Purulia, voters complained that the central forces neither conducted any flag march in the last three days nor today, giving a chilling reminder of the likely repeat of widespread violence in Bengal during the 2014 general election.
Police in Polling Booths
While CPMF troops were seen manning the polling booths, there were reports of presence of state police personnel inside a few polling stations. Besides, despite categorical assurances given by Chief Election Commissioner Nassim Zaidi that the CPMFs would also conduct flag marches in the villages to maintain area dominance, the security forces were conspicuous by their absence.
Instead, in Shalboni (West Medinipur) the CPMF jawans were seen resting under shady trees while some were seen busy shopping in local markets.
Poll Violence is Bengal’s Bane
- TMC supporters and state police personnel seen
to be active in pressuring voters in many areas of Junglemahal today.
- Complaints related to the passive role of the
central paramilitary forces reach the election commission.
- The local superintendent of police and district
magistrate accused of deploying the security forces in gross violation of the
EC’s norms.
- Taking advantage of this slackness, some state
police personnel and TMC supporters became active in terrorising the rural
voters.
- CEC Nassim Zaidi springs into action, calls for
immediate action on the complaints.
Violence in Shalboni
Taking advantage of this slackness, some state police personnel and TMC supporters became active in pressuring rural voters and taking recourse to unfair means. The most serious incident of TMC intimidation occurred in Shalboni’s Adharnayan villages where about 100-150 ruling party activists attacked some journalists and the CPI(M) candidate Shaymsundar Pande.
According to reports, the TMC goons beat up Pande and the media persons, snatched away the camera of one news channel, damaged vehicles and tried to set fire to a few parked vehicles. The reports alleged that CPMF jawans stood by without taking action against the TMC cadres. Despite repeated appeals to rescue the journalists, the jawans did not move.
Following media reports, the Chief Electoral Officer, Sunil Kumar Gupta ordered the West Medinipur district magistrate to take measures to check violence and voter intimidation.
Trinamool Threats
Additional reports suggested that in Nayagram area under West Medinipur constituency TMC workers threatened villagers with dire consequences if they dared to leave their homes to cast their vote. The villagers complained that since they were BJP supporters they were ordered by the TMC workers and state police personnel not to leave their homes. The BJP candidate there was also similarly threatened by them. In Taldangra, Bankura, a state police assistant sub-inspector was seen taking bribes inside a polling booth.
As many as 197 complaints of unfair polling practices and intimidation reached the CEC office in the first hour polling in the Junglemahal. According to EC source, of these complaints, 70 were of a serious nature, and they were being attended to.
Poll Panel Instructions
CEC Nassim Zaidi is said to have called the CEO Gupta and instructed him to speedily act upon the complaints. Zaidi is said to have ordered Gupta to speak with the district magistrates of Purulia, West Medinipur and Bankura. Following this, one presiding officer was removed in Purulia’s Balarampur. In Bankura, the DM issued orders that the state police would not be allowed inside polling booths.
Amidst these disturbing events, polling proceeded smoothly in many areas. In Purulia’s Bandwan, a Maoist stronghold in the recent past, there were long queues of voters. Similar scenes were witnessed in Kashipur and some other places.
(The writer is a former Executive Editor, Ananda Bazar Patrika)
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