Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday cast her vote around 4.30 p.m. at a polling booth at Mitra Institution under the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in south Kolkata and alleged that central forces deployed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the second phase of Assembly polls for 142 constituencies had harassed and beaten innocent voters, including women and children, in the name of ensuring free, fair and violence-free polling.
She also accused the central forces of deliberately and selectively targeting Trinamool Congress leaders, workers and even polling agents throughout the day under the instructions of police observers appointed by the ECI.
“Is it really a free and fair poll? I have seen the central forces resorting to so many atrocities on polling day. But despite this, I am confident of Trinamool Congress’s victory in the Assembly elections this year,” the Chief Minister told mediapersons after casting her vote.
She is the voter, sitting MLA and Trinamool Congress candidate from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, and this time she is pitted against Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari.
Apart from the central forces, officers-in-charge of some police stations under both Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police also came under attack from the Chief Minister.
“Atrocities have been committed in various areas of Nadia district, as well as Arambagh, Khanakul and Goghat areas in Hooghly district. There have been similar incidents in the Canning area of South 24 Parganas district. The atrocities have been going on since Tuesday night,” the Chief Minister alleged.
According to her, since the ECI had deployed police observers from other states, and none of them understood Bengali, there had been a communication gap.
“Some of these police officers are instructing the central forces to crack down on innocent voters and even some of the Trinamool Congress candidates,” the Chief Minister said.
There were reports of sporadic tension in Bhabanipur through Wednesday, though there were no reports of casualties or major injuries. At times, central forces personnel had to resort to baton charge to disperse agitated crowds.
(IANS)
