Clashes Between TMC, ISF Workers in Bengal’s Bhangar Over Panchayat Polls; Police Cars Vandalised

Election violence continued in parts of West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on Tuesday with reports of clashes between the ruling Congress party in Trinamool and leaders of the secular Indian Front on the fifth day of filing nominations for the upcoming Panchayat elections. According to reports from Bhangar district of South 24 Parganas, ISF workers have allegedly attacked police personnel and vandalized at least four police vehicles.

Violence erupted in Bhangar on Tuesday as the Internal Security Forces accused the Transitional Military Council of preventing its candidates from filing nominations for the panchayat elections. The mob vandalized several cars and threw bombs in the presence of the police during the scuffle between the Transitional Military Council and the Internal Security Forces workers.

After the violence broke out, the police charged and fired tear gas to disperse the mob and restore normal life. A few policemen were reportedly injured in the process.

Election Commission Approach HC v. NHRC

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the State Election Commission had approached the Kolkata High Court to challenge the decision of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to appoint its own observer for the state’s rural civic body elections.

In its petition, the Committee challenged the NHRC’s authority to appoint observers for the Panchayat elections along with accusing the NHRC of being overly active in this matter.

On 11 June, the National Human Rights Commission announced the appointment of Director General (Investigation) Damodar Sarangi as the independent observer of the Panchayat Elections in the state. The NHRC sent a report to the state election commission and the state secretariat regarding the charges.

The NHRC had learned on its own of the reports of violence during the nomination phase as a Congressman was shot dead in Kharram in Murshidabad district on Friday, and a government employee was assaulted by ruling party activists in Bhangar in South district. 23 parganas because it allowed AISF candidates to collect nomination papers.

Violence in West Bengal

Apart from that, several large-scale violent incidents have been reported from various pockets of the state during the first four days of the nomination since last Friday.

Local TV channels showed police and journalists fleeing with bombs thrown by unknown assailants.

The ruling Transitional Military Council and the opposition Internal Security Forces accused each other of engaging in violence in Bhangar.

Violent incidents have been reported since 9 June, the first day of filing nomination for the 8 July panchayat elections, in many districts of the state.

(With input from IANS and PTI)