Chopra erupts over ballot bullies

KOUSIK SEN, TT, 19 Apr 2019, Raiganj: Violence flared in North Dinajpur Chopra on Thursday after protests and highway blockades by residents who claimed that armed Trinamul workers were turning them away from a booth without casting their votes in the second phase of polls.

Though located in North Dinajpur, Chopra comes under the Darjeeling parliamentary constituency. It is one of the Assembly segments on which Trinamul is banking on for a lead to secure its first win in the Lok Sabha seat. Trinamul leaders denied the allegations about blocking or threatening voters.

While efforts were on to clear the road, some in mob lobbed crude bombs, stones and bricks at the cops. The police retaliated with batons and teargas shells. Some of the protesters alleged the policemen fired some rounds in the air. Senior police officials denied any firing.

The protests continued for four hours from around 8am and ended in the afternoon, after policemen escorted the voters to the booth as the administration deployed central paramilitary forces to maintain law and order. "We had to fire three rounds of teargas to bring the mob under control," said additional director-general of police (law and order) Siddh Nath Gupta. Sumit Kumar, the North Dinajpur police chief, echoed ADG Gupta.

Chief electoral officer Aariz Aftab said 100-150 people were protesting and alleging they were not allowed to vote at the booth in Choprabusty. "A large contingent of forces, along with a police observer, reached the spot but there was no disruption in voting." Earlier, in the morning, 50odd residents of Choprabusty alleged that some Trinamul supporters intimidated them and asked them to leave without voting at the booth 180 in the Dighi Colony area. "I went to the booth to vote. However, some youths, who are known Trinamul workers, brandished firearms and asked me and many others to leave. There were some policemen at the booth but they did nothing," said Tapash Haldar, a resident.

"We were demonstrating in protest of inadequate security at the booth. Some armed Trinamul workers forced us to leave the booth and threatened us with dire consequences. During the protest, the police attacked us with sticks and also fired some rounds in the air," said Nirmala Roy, one of the protesters.

In another incident, an EVM was damaged when Trinamul and BJP supporters clashed at a booth in Kotagach of Chopra.

In Calcutta, BJP leaders described the second phase of polls "more or less peaceful". "There were lesser number of incidents compared to the first phase because central forces had covered 80 per cent of the booths," party leader Mukul Roy said.