Incidents of poll-related violence on the rise in West Bengal: Report

KOLKATA: The Election Commission has raised concerns on increasing incidents of pre and post poll violence in Bengal. Incidents of poll-related violence and deaths are on the rise in the state. According to a Bengal police report submitted to the Union home ministry, in the run up to the 2014 Parliamentary elections (during two election months), there were reports of 14 deaths, over 1,166 incidents of violence—one of the highest in India.

The report was submitted to the ministry after the MHA sought the poll-related violence facts from the state police. The story in the municipal elections in the state, held in 2015, is no different either. Data shows 462 cases of violence and 4 deaths during the March, April municipal elections.

The report claims that there were 450 instances of factional feuds in 2015, in which 47 people were killed and over 1,000 people were injured. In first two months of 2016, there were 11incidents of party men hurling bombs at each other in which six people were killed. But, interestingly Trinamool’s mid-level leaders and cadres are fighting with each other, in the absence of any Opposition.

Reports of intra-party clashes are surfacing almost on a daily basis and the growing number of infighting is disturbing Mamata. In February 2016, three blasts resulting in seven deaths have been reported. All three instances involved making crude bombs in the houses of TMC men in Birbhum & Murshidabad. Significantly, the facts have not gone unnoticed by the Election Commission either. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), too expressed concerns over the violence in four districts — Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Budwan.

Speaking over the pre-poll violence, CEC N Zaidi said, "The reports about illegal arms, explosions and other nefarious activities in these districts have reached the commission. We have asked the chief secretary, home secretary, DGP and other senior officials to put special focus in these areas."