In Bhangar, Governor calls for strict action against those behind violence
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A day after two people were killed in poll-related violence during the nominations for panchayat elections in Bhangar, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Friday visited the South 24 Parganas town and met families of the victims and local persons. The Governor said the perpetrators of the violence “would be silenced in a permanent way” and that the people of the state have a right to exercise their franchise.
The nomination process for the July 8 polls ended on Thursday. Two people – one from Indian Secular Front (ISF) and another from ruling TMC – were killed in Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, where clashes have been taking place since Tuesday.
Bhangar remained on edge on Friday as well after alleged incidents of violence were reported from the town. Sources said crude bombs were recovered from a house near Bhangar police station. The Governor reached Bijoyganj Bazar in Bhangar at around 10.30 am and interacted with the families of the victims and locals. The Governor also spoke to ISF workers, who alleged that they had been prevented from submitting nomination papers.
Talking to media persons, Governor Bose said, “I interacted with the victims of the violence and locals. I can assure the people of Bengal that violence will be the first victim in this election. The perpetrators of violence will be silenced in a permanent way under the Constitution and the law of the land. Peace-loving people of Bengal should be able to exercise their franchise.”
Asked if he had spoken to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the poll-related violence in Bhangar and other places, he said, “The chief minister is my constitutional colleague. What is said between us is not to be spoken outside.” “In some areas unfortunate incidents have been reported. Bombings happened. The people of Bengal have the right to vote peacefully. Peaceful elections should be held for the sake of democracy. Violence will not be tolerated in any way. Strict action will be taken against the culprits,” Bose said.
He said people would soon see “effective and concrete action”. “Shocked to hear that the toll in pre-election violence in Bengal is increasing. It is revolting that the media is also under attack by hooligans. Victory in elections should depend on the count of votes, not the count of bodies,” the Governor said in a statement on Friday.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday hit out at ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui in a veiled attack for allegedly “creating disturbance”. Addressing a public meeting during Kakdwip, she maintained that the TMC was not behind the violence.
Without taking any names, the chief minister said, “He is creating disturbance by taking money from the BJP. I want to challenge you, show me a state where so many nominations have ever been filed so peacefully. The Bhangar unrest was caused by some goons. Two of my colleagues were also killed in the violence. The TMC isn’t behind the unrest in Bhangar.”
ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui, who also visited Bhangar and met the families of the victims on Friday, demanded a probe by the NIA into the violence. “If any TMC worker has died, I challenge the chief minister to show their Aadhaar cards. The Governor visited Bhangar today. He shared his email ID with ISF workers. We will send him a detailed email,” he said.
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