The fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls passed off peacefully barring a few incidents of violence on Monday. The Election Commission said there were 1,705 complaints and 69 arrests in eight constituencies — Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Birbhum, Bolpur, Asansol, Bardhaman East and Bardhaman-Durgapur — that went to the polls.

However, the commission said that 90 per cent of the complaints could be resolved as the authorities intervened on time. The Telegraph lists some of the complaints that came up during the day.

Omission of names

Where: Booth No 119 at Beldanga, Baharampur

Incident: Twenty-four people with valid voter ID cards discovered that their names were missing from the voters’ list. They gathered in front of the booth and demanded that they be allowed to vote. The voters alleged that their names had been deliberately removed from the list

Official-speak: Their identities were verified and all the 24 were allowed to cast their votes.

Where: Booth No 113 in ward 8 of Rampurhat municipality, Birbhum

Incident: Lalmoni Biwi, a female voter, said when she had tried to cast her vote, polling personnel informed her that her vote had already been recorded. She lodged a verbal complaint with the presiding officer. The allegation was that the district authorities had deleted the name from the voters’ list

Official-speak: An EC official said no complaints had been lodged

Poll officers removed

Where: Booth No 25, Ilambazar, Baharampur

Incident: The webcasting monitoring cell in the chief electoral officer (CEO)’s office noticed that a presiding officer had failed to prevent an individual from repeatedly entering the booth and attempting to influence voters.

Official-speak: The presiding officer was removed immediately.

Where: Booth No 168, Salar, Baharampur

Incident: The presiding officer was removed after receiving a complaint from the Congress that a polling agent was conspiring with the presiding officer to rig the election.

Official-speak: The EC investigated the incident and removed the presiding officer.

Intimidation

Where: Salar and Barwan, Baharampur

Incident: The Congress filed a complaint with the CEO’s office, citing numerous reports, primarily from the Salar and Burwan regions, about alleged instances of voter intimidation and fear. The Congress urged the commission to restore confidence among the electors. The Congress alleged that the Trinamool Congress and police were threatening voters and asking them to stay indoors.

Official-speak: We have received a complaint and are collecting details.

Where: Bangaljhi Swami Vivekananda Vidyamandir, Chapra, Krishnanagar

Incident: Rajib Seikh, leader of the Chapra block committee of Trinamool, allegedly led a group of armed individuals in intimidating voters en route to the polling station. Multiple voters, including Sukla Karmakar, a local BJP figure, were allegedly assaulted.

Official-speak: Special police observer Anil Sharma said action was taken. Police ensured free access of voters to the polling station.

Where: Daspara, Chapra, Krishnanagar

Incident: Residents of Daspara alleged that Trinamool supporters had
intimidated villagers and warned them of severe repercussions if they attempted
to exercise their franchise. BJP candidate Amrita Roy rushed to the spot and lodged a police complaint.

Official-speak: Police said they were looking into the incident.

CRPF threat

Where: Booth Nos 213 and 214, Rayan 1 gram panchayat, Bardhaman-Durgapur

Incident: Trinamool accused CRPF personnel of lathi-charging innocent voters standing in queues at these booths.

Official-speak: The EC said the commission was collecting information about the incident.

TMC protest

Where: In front of G.T.I High School, Behrampore

Incident: Trinamool Congress workers stopped the convoy of Congress
candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, alleging that he was entering the polling
premises with a convoy of 10/12 vehicles and influencing the voters.

Official-speak: Police stopped Chowdhury’s convoy and permitted only three vehicles

Violence

Where: Booth Nos 17 and 18, Mangalkot, Bolpur

Incident: Trinamool workers allegedly assaulted and expelled polling agents
of the BJP, Bapi Bag and Goyaram Pandit. Piyali Sahha, the Bolpur Lok Sabha candidate, escorted them to the polling centres so that they could cast their votes. The BJP alleged that its agents had not been allowed to sit at the booths.

Official-speak: The issue was solved and the agents were allowed to vote.