Indian Secular Front -Trinamul Congress clash coincides with Calcutta High Court order

Pre-poll violence in Bhangar on Day Three

Police fire teargas shells to disperse goons hurling bombs at Bhangar in South 24-Parganas on Wednesday: Picture by Mehaboob Gazi

Subhasish Chaudhuri, TT, Calcutta,15.06.23 :  Violence between Trinamul and Indian Secular Front (ISF) supporters continued for the third day on Wednesday, disrupting the nomination process at Bhangar in South 24-Parganas.

The violence occurred on a day when Calcutta High Court directed the state election commission to direct all police stations concerned to “assist” those not able to file nominations.

Thursday is the last day to file nominations for the three-tier panchayat elections to be held on July 8.

The division bench headed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha passed the order in response to a joint petition filed by ISF candidate Md Abdul Maleque Molla and two others, who were allegedly beaten up and prevented from filing their nominations by armed Trinamul supporters while they were on their way to the Bhangar-I block development office on Monday.

The order stated: “..the court deems it necessary to direct the State Election Commission to exercise power as vested on them under section 46 (2) of the West Bengal Panchayat Election Act, 2003 and direct all concerned police stations to render necessary assistance to those candidates, who are not able to file nominations, upon receipt of complaints in this regard on or before the last date of filling nominations, i.e. tomorrow."

The court also asked the poll panel to communicate with the director general of Bengal police so that he can ask all district police chiefs to ensure compliance with the order. The court in particular asked the poll panel to communicate the order to the officer-in-charge of Bhangar and Kashipur police stations, under whose jurisdiction the three petitioners live.

The petitioners have welcomed the court's order.

"We hope the police will extend assistance to us tomorrow (Thursday) to file nomination," Molla said.

An ISF leader in Bhangar said: "This order is quite symbolic and not just meant for the three petitioners, rather it directed the commission to ensure assistance so that all candidates who face difficulties could file nomination."

The court’s directive was delivered on a day when violent incidents rocked Bhangar and Opposition parties accused Trinamul of resorting to attacks to prevent political rivals from filing nominations.

Workers of Trinamul and ISF clashed during the filing of nominations.

ISF leaders accused the ruling party of attacking them with bombs and stones to prevent ISF candidates from filing nominations. Trinamul leader Saokat Molla denied the charges and accused the ISF of orchestrating the violence and attacking Trinamul candidates.

Nearly 100 armed persons were seen roaming in close vicinity of the Bhangar block 2 BDO office in violation of the high court order, an ISF leader said.

"Trinamul is not involved in the violence," Molla told reporters. When told that a team led by senior police officer Siddhi Nath Gupta had to disperse a mob of the ruling party, the MLA added that the administration would take action against them.

Several police vehicles were damaged in the violence and journalists were also attacked.

Trinamul supporters blocked Basanti Highway near the Bhangar BDO office for several hours, accusing ISF supporters led by MLA Nawsad Siddique of attacking them. The blockade cleared in two hours after Gupta and other IPS officers arrived with forces around 1.15pm.

It took the police several hours to clear the blockade that started around 10.15am near Nalmuri on Basanti Expressway when allegedly 500 armed Trinamul supporters allegedly attacked ISF supporters.