In a tragic turn of events, a clash between supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district’s Dinhata on Tuesday morning resulted in the death of a TMC worker and injuries to six others. This incident comes as the latest in a series of violent confrontations leading up to the scheduled panchayat polls on July 8, following the announcement of the poll schedule by the State Election Commission (SEC) on June 8. So far, the clashes have claimed the lives of 11 individuals, with many others sustaining injuries.
According to an anonymous police officer stationed in Cooch Behar, the clash erupted as a result of a political confrontation between two groups. Among the seven individuals who suffered bullet wounds, one, identified as Babu Haque, tragically lost his life. The location of the clash near the unfenced portion of the India-Bangladesh border raises concerns that local leaders may have involved Bangladeshi criminals in the incident. The police are currently conducting further investigations to uncover the truth behind these allegations.
Just a day before the clash, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee commenced her campaign for the upcoming polls with a rally in Cooch Behar. During her speech, she criticized the Border Security Force (BSF), accusing them of terrorizing and killing villagers along the international border. The BSF promptly responded, denying all allegations and asserting that no complaints of intimidation had been filed against them. Despite the escalating pre-poll violence, the state government had already requested 822 companies of central paramilitary forces to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.
On June 20, the Supreme Court upheld a previous order by the Calcutta High Court, directing the deployment of these forces, particularly in sensitive constituencies. The state government and the SEC had challenged this order, but their appeals were dismissed by the Supreme Court. The situation in West Bengal remains tense as the panchayat polls draw nearer. The clashes between TMC and BJP supporters have raised concerns about the overall security and fairness of the electoral process. The authorities are urged to take immediate and necessary measures to restore peace and safeguard the lives of the people during this critical period.