New Delhi: Incidents of violence were reported on Saturday, June 1, in several districts of West Bengal as polling in the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections to nine seats in the state. Voting in underway in Bengal for Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin and Kolkata Uttar parliamentary seats amid tight security. 

EVM and VVPAT machine were reportedly thrown in a a nearby pond by a mob at booth number 40, 41 in Kultai, South 24 Parganas, following which fresh EVM was provided by the election commission. However, the Election Commission said that the EVM which were thrown in water were reserved EVMs.

“Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs & papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU , 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond...FIR has been lodged by Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. Poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer,” said the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer in a post on X. 

Violence was reported from Bhangar in Jadavpur constituency. Crude bombs were also recovered from the area. BJP candidate Tapas Roy also faced protests from TMC workers as he visited polling booths on Saturday. In Sandeshkhali, the BJP workers alleged that members of the Trinamool Congress threatened the polling agents. 

Tight Security Arrangements in Bengal 

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed 967 companies of central forces along with over 33,000 state policemen for the final phase, the official said, adding that 246 companies of central forces along with 11,000 state policemen will be deployed in Kolkata. A total of 384 companies of central forces will be deployed in South 24 Parganas district, while 116 companies will be on duty in Basirhat

Of the 124 candidates in the fray, Kolkata Dakshin has the highest at 17, followed by Jadavpur (16), and 15 each in Basirhat and Kolkata Uttar. Several heavyweight candidates, including Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, sitting MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Sougata Roy, and Mala Roy, former Union minister Debasree Chaudhuri of the BJP, and senior CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty are in the fray.