People's Democracy

Bloodbath in West Bengal Panchayat Elections

From Our Special Correspondent in Kolkata

PANCHAYAT elections have become a horrible nightmare for West Bengal. In their ferocious effort to capture three tiers of panchayat in any manner, the ruling party has unleashed a reign of terror which resulted in widespread violence in all phases of elections. The violence, which started even before the nomination process, resulted in at least 40 deaths from the date of filing nominations.

Some commentators have attributed this violence to ‘ political culture’ of the state, ignoring the empirical fact that the state has witnessed 29 major elections in 34 years of the Left Front government (including parliamentary, assembly, panchayat, municipal) which never experienced such horrendous atmosphere. Seven panchayat elections were held basically in the mood of festival. The state administration under the Left Front government drew praises from the election commission time and again.

The high death figure is only a reflection of the more pervasive terrorisation. In the bl0odiest fourth phase, at least 14 people were killed during and after the elections. Apart from five CPI(M) supporters, other sections of people faced the violence. A woman voter, Noorjahan Bibi was killed in Beldanga, when TMC miscreants attacked the voters. In Maldaha, another aged voter was killed in firing by security forces when they intervened to quell violence. In most tragic incidents, five children suffered serious injury in Maldaha and Murshidabad. In Kaliachak, Maldaha, three children suffered severe injuries by bomb blasts inside the house of a Trinamul Congress leader. Bombs were stockpiled in the house. In another incident, a six year old child was injured when Congress miscreants threw bombs at the house of a CPI(M) activist.

In the fourth phase, hundreads of booths were captured in four districts of Nadia, Birbhum, Maldaha and Murshidabad.  The only difference with earlier phases was in Maldaha and Murshidabad, Congress was equally violent like Trinamul Congress and in many places clashes between these two parties took place.

In Nadia, CPI(M) activist Khabiruddin Sheikh was killed in bomb attacks in Mayapur. In areas like Chakdaha, Haringhata, Ranaghat widespread booth capturing took place, led by the TMC. In Bogula, TMC miscreants came in a car and started throwing bombs, then captured the booth. Central forces arrived in the spot and the miscreants were forced to flee, their car was seized. Police found bombs and TMC flags in the car. The attacks in the border areas of North 24 Parganas district and Nadia were organised  by TMC MLA Subhranghshu Roy, son of TMC leader Mukul Roy.

In Murshidabad, violent attacks on voters and in the villages started from early morning. Beldanga, Domkal, Baharampur, Rezinagar, Raninagar, Kandi, Jalangi were terrorised. In Raninagar, a CPI(M) activist was killed.  In Jalangi, a CPI(M) activist was shot. In Beldanga, Domkkal, numerous booths were captured, mainly by Congress hoodlums. In Raninagar, two Congress activists were killed apparently from bomb blasts while making bombs. In Jiaganj, TMC activists fired at voters’ line injuring two CPI(M) supporters. In Hariharpara, many CPI(M) supporters were injured when Congress miscreants attacked booths. The violence continued even after the voting ended.

In Maldaha, Kaliachak block witnessed widespread violence. Both TMC and Congress virtually unleashed a reign of terror. In English Bazar, a woman CPI(M) candidate was attacked and molested. In many areas, voters alleged that their voter cards were snatched the night before.

In Birbhum, booths were captured in Khairashol, Rampurhat, Mohammed Bazar, Dubrajpur, Ilambazar and Siuri. In Mayureswar, three CPI(M) activists were kidnapped before the elections and their bodies were found on the day of voting. In Khairashol, CPI(M) activists were chased away and agents were forced to leave booths. In Dubrajpur, TMC miscreants even attacked police when they tried to prevent booth capturing.

In Birbhum, in a gruesome incident, the father of an independent candidate was killed by the TMC activists in Parui. This attack came as a direct follow-up of the threat issued by TMC Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal. He extolled his party workers to ‘’attack and burn down houses of independent candidates” and “hurl bombs at the police’’ in a public meeting. His speech was even televised. Within few hours of this threat, one candidate’s house was burnt. On the day of the elections, the father of another was killed. These ‘independents’ were actually rebel TMC activists but there was no saviour for them. Despite hue and cry from all quarters, including election commission, no action has been taken against the TMC leader. This incident has exposed how to the minimum the law and order administration has collapsed in the state.

Biman Basu, Left Front chairman condemned the violence and said there was no attempt on the part of state administration to control violence. On the contrary, top TMC leaders and state ministers are encouraging violence. “West Bengal is moving towards a goondaraj”, Basu said.

In another desperate act, the TMC tried to thwart a public meeting by Biman Basu in Sitai of Coochbehar district. Already a terror-stricken area, Sitai residents were threatened not to go to the meeting. The market was forcibly closed, roadblocks were erected and finally the wires of loud speaker were snapped. However braving all odds, people attended the meeting.