The sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls was marked by significant violence. The poll panel received 1,985 complaints — the highest among all phases so far. Moreover, 318 arrests were made across constituencies Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia, Medinipur, Tamluk, Contai, Ghatal and Bishnupur that voted on Saturday. The Election Commission noted that 90 per cent of the complaints were resolved promptly because of timely intervention. The Telegraph lists some complaints that arose during the day.
Rigging video
Where: Nandigram, Booth 279, Tamluk
Allegation: Tamluk’s Trinamool candidate Debanshu Bhattacharya accused the BJP of rigging via false voting by sharing the video of the webcast on social media.
Officialspeak: The EC stated that there was a replacement of VVPATs, resulting in a large crowd in front of the EVMs. The commission is probing how the webcast video reached Bhattacharya.
House arrest
Where: Moyna, Brindabanchawk, Tamluk
Allegation: In Moyna’s Brindabanchak village, police kept Gautam Guru, the BJP booth convener, under house arrest since morning. On hearing the news, BJP Tamluk candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay came to his house and had a long conversation with the police. Then, Gangopadhyay sat down in protest in front of his house, alleging that the police were trying to threaten workers.
Officialspeak: The commission asked for a report from the police.
Forces stop MLA
Where: Barjora, Bankura booth 62
Allegation: TMC MLA Alok Mukherjee was stopped by the central forces and asked to stand in line when he went to vote at booth 62 in Barjora Girls’ High School. They also asked him to leave his mobile phones outside. Mukherjee accused the central forces of highhandedness.
Officialspeak: The commission received no complaint yet.
Assault
Where: Sabang, Tamluk booth 109
Allegation: TMC was accused of brutally assaulting a BJP polling agent, who is now undergoing treatment at Sabang Hospital.
Officialspeak: The EC has asked for an action-taken report from the district administration.
Thrashed
Where: Nandigram booth no 29
Allegation: At booth 29 in Babukhan Bazar, TMC-backed goons were accused of assaulting BJP-inclined voters on their way to the booth. Two injured persons were admitted to Nandigram Super Specialty Hospital.
Officialspeak: Police and QRT teams rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.
Jawan’s gun snatched
Where: Patashpur, Mangalchawk, in Contai
Allegation: Villagers snatched the weapon of a CRPF jawan. The police said they received the complaint against the villagers and the weapon was recovered.
Officialspeak: The commission sought an action-taken report from the police.
Protest against Dev
Where: Ghatal’s Fatehpur booth 70
Allegation: When Dev visited booth 70 in Fatehpur, part of the Ghatal constituency, some residents surrounded him and asked why he had not visited earlier and why he was only appearing now during polls. The TMC alleged that the BJP was provoking people to create problems.
Officialspeak: Central forces dispersed the crowd.
Disrespect to agent
Where: Ghatal’s Keshpur booth 29
Allegation: TMC was accused of preventing a CPM agent from taking his seat at booth 29 in Khetua, which falls under the Keshpur Assembly constituency of Ghatal.
Officialspeak: The commission has asked for a report.
Beaten up
Where: West Midnapore’s Sabra village high school, Daton
Allegation: A BJP booth worker was allegedly beaten and his house vandalised by TMC workers, alleged BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul.
Officialspeak: The police were informed and they drove away goons.
Molestation
Where: Ghatal’s Jalimada booth 126
Allegation: A CRPF officer allegedly attempted to molest a woman voter. Trinamool filed a complaint with the Election Commission
Officialspeak: The officer was removed from duty
