Violence Erupts in Bengal Day Before By-polls, Homes of BJP Panchayat Members in Ranaghat Attacked

Kolkata: Polling for by-elections in four assembly seats in West Bengal is currently underway amidst heavy deployment of security forces. However, a day before the polling, on Tuesday, a wave of violence erupted in the state. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) backed miscreants invaded houses of BJP panchayat member Golak Mondal and another BJP panchayat member Amal Biswas of Paydradanga panchayat under Ranaghat Dakshin assembly constituency.

Around 30 miscreants allegedly attacked the houses of BJP panchayat members and broke the windows and doors and furthermore hit the family members with cold drink bottles.

Following the incident, the Election Commission has taken the allegations seriously and has summoned an ATR (Action Taken Report) from the concerned district election officer and SP on an urgent basis, requiring a response within two hours. The EC has also said that 26 people have been arrested in connection with the violence. As the by-elections proceed, the heightened security presence aims to ensure a peaceful and orderly voting process across all affected constituencies.

The constituencies involved in the by-elections are Maniktala in Kolkata, Ranaghat Dakshin and Bagdah in North 24 Parganas, which are all located in the southern part of the state. The fourth constituency, Raiganj, is situated in north Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district. Approximately 10 lakh voters are expected to cast their ballots across these four assembly segments.

In response to the need for secure polling, the Election Commission has deployed around 70 companies of security forces to safeguard 1,097 polling booths spread across the four assembly seats. The counting of votes will take place on July 13.