Several incidents of violence were reported on Monday in the fourth phase of polling in Asansol and other parts of West Bengal.
According to a NDTV report, one person was injured in violent clashes in Nanoor village in Birbhum. Residents of the village reportedly protested — armed with bamboo sticks — and alleged that Trinamool workers stopped them from casting their votes. Central forces also reached the village, as per the report. On Sunday, Birbhum Trinamool leader Anubrata Mondal was put under house arrest till April 30. The Election Commission has also seized a cellphone belonging to him. As per ANI, “Polling officers had requested West Bengal CEO of his house arrest for a free and fair election.”
West Bengal: TMC Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal has been put under house arrest till April 30. The state will go to polls in the 4th phase tomorrow. Polling officers had requested WB CEO of his house arrest for a free & fair election. #LokSabhaElections2019
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2019
Also Read: Poll Workers Threatened: EC Puts Controversial TMC Leader Anubrata Mondal Under Scanner
As per PTI, clashes broke out between Trinamool and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters outside a polling booth in Barabani, Asansol. The violence was triggered after sitting BJP MP Babul Supriyo had a tiff with a polling officer inside the polling station, an Election Commission source told PTI.
Supriyo’s car was also vandalised in the clash, ANI reported.
West Bengal: BJP MP candidate from Asansol, Babul Supriyo’s car vandalised in Asansol. A TMC polling agent says, there is no BJP polling agent here. pic.twitter.com/kBNmpXCvPD
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Meanwhile, villagers boycotted polling in another booth in Asansol due to the absence of central forces, ANI reported.
West Bengal: Villagers boycott polls at Jemua’s polling booth number 222&226 in Asansol due to absence of central forces at the polling station. Polling has been suspended at the polling station as voters are protesting. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/ZlelPIKMB0
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Trinamool workers clashed with police personnel in another polling booth of the constituency after a disagreement erupted between Mamata Banerjee’s party workers and CPI (M) and BJP workers. The CPI (M) and BJP supporters didn’t want polling to continue in the absence of central forces.
#WATCH Clash between TMC workers and QRF and security personnel outside polling booth number 125-129 in Asansol, after disagreement erupted between BJP & CPI(M) workers after TMC workers insisted on polling despite absence of central forces. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/wmTE97gY4i
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Trinamool MP Moon Moon Sen and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Gouranga Chatterjee are contesting against Supriyo in Asansol.
When an NDTV reporter asked Sen about the reported violence, she said that she “woke up very late” as she was given the “bed tea late”. The Trinamool leader added that she was not aware of any such reports.
WATCH | “No bed tea…”: Moon Moon Sen on why she was unaware of Asansol violence https://t.co/5iUQ3UYUt5#Phase4 #LokSabhaElections2019 #ElectionsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/Yz5ZtHw6wt
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 29, 2019
As per a 101 reporter, a crude bomb was found near a polling booth in Nadia’s Shantipur area which falls under Ranaghat parliamentary constituency. On Sunday, three Trinamool supporters were reportedly injured while trying to make a crude bomb in neighbouring Krishnanagar constituency.
BJP’s Krishnanagar candidate Kalyan Chaubey posted a series of tweets alleging that Trinamool goons had captured polling booths in the constituency.
Booth numbers 197/198, 102, 19 to 35, 67-71 in Chapra, booth no. 62 (Bikrampur), 240 (Dogachi), booth no. 121/122 (Kanainagar) under Krishananagar LS Constituency has been captured by TMC goons.
BJP Polling agents are not allowed at Kaliganj’s booth number 1&2. @ECISVEEP
— Chowkidar Kalyan Chaubey (@kalyanchaubey) April 29, 2019
Bengal police is threatening our polling agents and workers at Booth no. 172 of Bilkumari village in Palashipara assembly constituency under Krishananagar LS Constituency. @ECISVEEP @abpanandatv @ANI @PTI_News @smitaprakash @rahulkanwal
— Chowkidar Kalyan Chaubey (@kalyanchaubey) April 29, 2019
Booth number 28 of Begberia village (Hradyapur), Chapra has been captured by TMC goons.
— Chowkidar Kalyan Chaubey (@kalyanchaubey) April 29, 2019
Chapra/ZP- 18 (Krishnanagar LS Constituency)
Booth captured by TMC goons: 5,6,7,8, 19,20, 21,60,61,62,64,30,31,97,98,102,103,84, 209, 196,197, 173,184, 246, 119, 70,71.
(Mostly in Bagberia and Hathishala Village)
— Chowkidar Kalyan Chaubey (@kalyanchaubey) April 29, 2019
As the polling was underway, Trinamool wrote a letter to West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer stating that “central forces have created a reign of terror in minds of voters and have also urged the voters to cast their vote for BJP.”
TMC writes to EC over alleged “firing by Central Forces personnel inside a polling booth in Dubrajpur, Birbhum parliamentary constituency”. Letter states, “Central forces have created a reign of terror in minds of voters & have also urged the voters to cast their vote for BJP.” pic.twitter.com/s81VTTWq8q
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
In the fourth phase, polling is underway in eight parliamentary constituencies in the eastern state.