Violence reported from multiple places
Elections for nine Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the last phase is going on currently. Kolkata and its adjoining areas in North and South 24 Parganas are voting. Unlike the last few phases, there was relative peace in the morning. But as the day has approached, isolated reports of violence have been reported from certain pockets.
Also, many voters from Kolkata have complained about long queues owing to malfunctioning EVM and VVPATs.
While TMC has alleged that Central Forces are trying to intimidate voters, BJP is saying that TMC is unleashing a reign of terror. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged EC to keep Central forces stationed in Bengal till Model Code of Conduct is in place.
Mamata Banerjee after giving vote said: Since morning the torture that BJP workers and CRPF have done during polling in our state, I have never seen it before.
Some of the big highlights so far:
Massiva clash reported between TMC and BJP in Bhatpara. Apparently just after Madan Mitra entered the area, there was so much bombing that he had to leave the area soon. Before that he was seen getting involved in a war of words with Central Forces inside a booth.
Crude bomb hurled in Kolkata's Didu Maheshwari school. Rahul Sinha, BJP candidate from Kolkata North has alleged that TMC has done it.
BJP candidate from Jadavpur Anupam Hazra's car vandalised. Several workers injured
BJP candidate of Diamond Harbour Nilanjan Roy's car vandalised
Babul Supriyo harassed after giving vote in North Kolkata
BJP candidate from Kolkata North, Rahul Sinha harassed, stones pelted on him. 2 BJP workers injured
CISF officer injured in Jadavpur
CPM candidate alleges TMC doing rigging in Diamond Harbour
QRT team attacked in Barasat's Sason
1. Massive unrest in Bhatpara
#WATCH: TMC leader Madan Mitra, party's candidate for the bypoll to Bhatpara Assembly seat, argues with a security personnel at a polling booth in the assembly constituency. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/qfBJ3Zzylb
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2019
As soon as Madan Mitra entered a booth in Kankinara, the situation became tense. There was altercation inside the booth and even TMC candidate was targeted. A RPF jawan was also injured in the process.
As soon as he left the booth, situation turned worse and there was heavy bombing in the area. Both TMC and BJP have alleged others of indulging in violence.
2. Crude bomb hurled in Kolkata
)
Crude bomb hurled in Kolkata's Rabindra Sarani area. Unidentified miscreants came on a bike and hurled bombs. 1 voter has been injured and the commission has sought a report about it.
Huge police force has rushed to Didu Maheshwari school where the incident took place. BJP candidate Rahul Sinha is alleging that TMC has done that in order to intimidate Hindi speaking voters.
3. Anupam Hazra's car vandalised
)
At 109 no ward, under Jadavpur LS, in Hellen Keller school booth, BJP candidate allegedly attacked by TMC. Car vandalised, local unit president injured.
DC CISF has been injured in the clash.
4. TMC candidate alleges Central forces trying to interfere in voting
)
In Deganga, a confrontation took place between central force and TMC candidate Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. TMC candidate alleges that central force is threatening their supporters and asking electorates to vote in favour of BJP , whereas the CISF claims that polling going very peacefully and the candidate is trying to blame them unnecessarily so that they can create an unlawful gathering of locals inside the booth campus.
In Barasat, voters accuse TMC workers of not allowing them to cast their franchise
5. Agitation against CRPF in Panihati, DumDum
)
Agitation against CRPF by TMC supporters at Panihati, Dumdum. Tmc supporters claimed CRPF asked them to vote for bjp and CRPF ransacked their booth office.
6. Rigging allegations against Abhishek Banerjee in Diamond Harbour
)
CPI(M) candidate Fuwad Halim has alleged that widespread rigging is taking place in Diamond Harbour's Bishnupur (SC) constituency. Halim is alleging that common voters are not allowed to cast votes. TMC candidate is Mamata Banerjee's nephew from that constituency.
