Forty-one individuals were arrested as sporadic violence erupted across parts of West Bengal during the first phase of polling. The incidents prompted the Election Commission to seek detailed reports from authorities.
BJP Candidate Assaulted in Kumarganj
Five people were detained after BJP candidate Subhendu Sarkar alleged he was assaulted by villagers at Kumarganj. Sarkar initially claimed that BJP agents were denied entry at the Banihari booth. Around noon, he arrived at the spot and staged a sit-in. After the situation normalized, he left. However, trouble reignited when BJP agents were driven away. Sarkar returned, chased an allegedly armed youth, and entered the village, where he was mobbed and beaten before security personnel rescued him.
Sarkar further alleged that agents at multiple polling stations were forcibly removed, and when he went to Booth 24, Trinamool Congress workers attacked him and his team. He also claimed that central forces deployed at the station were absent during the attack.
Naoda Becomes Flashpoint
Naoda in Murshidabad, about 35 km from Berhampore, emerged as a flashpoint in an otherwise largely peaceful election across the district. The Election Commission sought reports on the incidents.
On Wednesday night, trouble flared at Shibnagar village when Trinamool candidate and sitting MLA Shahina Mumtaz Khan alleged that a crude bomb was hurled at her car while she was visiting a party worker's home. The bomb did not explode near her car but injured a passerby, Jahanara Bibi, who sustained severe injuries and was admitted to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. A large team of central forces was deployed in the village overnight.
Trinamool blamed the attack on Humayun Kabir's Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP). Kabir denied the allegation, stating that Khan was like his sister and he would never attack her.
Clashes and Lathicharge
Clashes continued through the morning between Kabir's supporters and Trinamool workers. Police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the crowd. The EC also sought a report on vandalism during the clashes.
In a controversial remark, Kabir suggested that retaliation was justified if provoked. "If someone throws stones, should we respond with sweets and kisses?" he said, while denying involvement in the bomb attack.
Tensions escalated when Kabir faced protests while visiting another booth in Shibnagar. Locals surrounded him, raising "go back" and "chor chor" slogans. The situation spiraled into a scuffle as Kabir allegedly charged towards protesters before police and central forces intervened. Kabir later staged a road blockade, accusing Trinamool of orchestrating violence to disrupt polling.
EVM Tampering Allegations in Khayrasole
In the third major incident, Khayrasole under the Dubrajpur assembly constituency turned tense on Thursday afternoon following allegations of EVM tampering. Villagers claimed that whenever they voted for the Trinamool candidate at booth 65 in Budhpur Primary School, the vote was registered for the BJP candidate. Polling officers stopped voting, and a furious mob turned violent. When central force jawans tried to disperse the mob, the crowd pelted stones. Security forces chased away the mob.
Several persons, including CAPF jawans and state police, sustained injuries. More troops were sent to control the situation. The injured were taken to a local health center and later to Suri district hospital.
Birbhum Superintendent of Police Surya Pratap Yadav stated in the afternoon: "So far, three have been arrested. A raid is underway. The situation is under control."
