Forty-one individuals were arrested as sporadic violence marred the first phase of polling across several parts of West Bengal. The incidents drew sharp reactions from political parties and prompted the Election Commission to seek detailed reports from district authorities.
Violence in Kumarganj: BJP Candidate Alleges Assault
In Kumarganj, five people were taken into custody after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Subhendu Sarkar alleged he was assaulted by a group of villagers. According to Sarkar, BJP agents were initially denied entry at the Banihari booth. Around noon, he arrived at the spot and sat there until the situation normalized, after which he left. However, trouble erupted again when BJP agents were reportedly driven away. Sarkar returned, chased an allegedly armed youth, and entered the village, where he was mobbed and severely beaten before security personnel rescued him.
Sarkar further alleged that agents at multiple polling stations were forcibly removed, and when he reached Booth 24, Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers attacked him and his team. He also claimed that central forces deployed at the station were absent during the attack.
Naoda Flashpoint: Bomb Hurled at TMC Candidate's Car
Naoda in Murshidabad district, about 35 kilometers from Berhampore, emerged as a major flashpoint. On Wednesday night, trouble flared at Shibnagar village when TMC 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 suffered severe injuries and was admitted to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. A large contingent of central forces was deployed in the village through the night.
The TMC 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 continued through the morning between Kabir's supporters and TMC workers. Police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the crowd, and the Election Commission sought a report on the vandalism.
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 further 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 the TMC of orchestrating violence to disrupt polling.
Khayrasole: EVM Tampering Allegations Lead to Clashes
In the third major incident, Khayrasole under Dubrajpur assembly constituency turned tense on Thursday afternoon following allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering. Villagers at booth 65 in Budhpur Primary School claimed that whenever they voted for the TMC candidate, the vote was registered for the BJP candidate. Polling officers stopped voting, and a mob grew furious, leading to a violent situation. When central force jawans tried to disperse the mob, the crowd pelted stones. Security forces chased away the mob.
Several individuals, including Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) jawans and state police personnel, sustained injuries. Additional troops were dispatched 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 that three people had been arrested so far, and a raid was underway, adding that the situation was under control.
