West Bengal: Violence culture leaves 20 dead in Panchayat polls

New Delhi: The violence ensued in Bengal even after the Panchayat elections were over on July 8 and the death toll reached to 20 with the alleged recent-killing of a Trinamool Congress worker in Malda on Saturday night.

As per the media reports, an active worker of Trinamool Congress Maitur Rahman was surrounded at the polling booth when he went to cast his vote. Rahman was stabbed to death and TMC blamed the Opposition party in the state, Congress, for it.

The bloodshed around the election season has become a culture in the West Bengal,  which is why, violence prevailed in the state despite the intervention of Calcutta High Court.

As Frontline reported, the State Election Commission (SEC) has sought 822 companies of central forces for the election but recieved only 649 even after the Calcutta High Court ordered to provide proper aid for the election.

Also Read: Home Minister Amit Shah seeks report from Mamata Banerjee-govt over violence

As a result of which, the violence ensued in the state, leaving many dead and the law and order situation devasted.

Earlier on July 6, the Calcutta HC issued directions to the central forces to be in the state for 10 days post the elections.

Many died a night before Panchayat Polls  

As part of the vote-looting and rigging that has now become a legacy of any elections in Bengal, at least four people were killed a night before the elections.

The four included Congress worker from Rejinagar in Murshidabad district, Yasmin Seikh, TMC workers Sabiruddin Seikh from Khargram in Murshidabad, Babar Ali, from Beldanga in the same district, and Ganesh Sarkar from Cooch Behar.

Bloodshed in Streets, Piched battle on field 

While the intense bloodshed was seen in the streets, activits from the ruling Trinamool, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Congress, and independents were engaged in the pitched battle.

Gruesome Election Scenario

The election scenario in Bengal had gruesome pictures as the clashes took place on the roads while public proties including the polling booths being vandalised. People who came to cast votes were threatened and even prevented to do the task.

This all took place while the police officials were also intimidated and their vehicles were destroyed and they found themselves deprived of the central forces’ help.

The post West Bengal: ‘Violence culture’ leaves 20 dead in Panchayat polls appeared first on News24.