Clashes broke out between supporters of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the Naoda area of West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Thursday, prompting police and central forces to resort to baton charge to disperse the mob, officials said. The violence was reported from Shibnagar village in the Naoda Assembly constituency during the first phase of the state Assembly elections. Several incidents of vehicle vandalism were also reported. Supporters of AJUP founder Humayun Kabir were accused of being involved in the disturbances, though he denied the allegations. Central forces carried out a lathi charge to bring the situation under control. The Election Commission has sought a report on the incident, officials said. In a separate incident, BJP candidate Suvendu Sarkar, contesting from the Kumarganj seat in West Bengal’s South Midnapore district, was allegedly attacked during polling amid rising tensions in the Assembly elections. A video of the incident shows Sarkar running to escape the assault, accompanied by his security guard. Despite the presence of security personnel, a mob can be seen chasing and allegedly assaulting him. The identity of the attackers has not yet been officially confirmed. Tension builds after Humayun Kabir visits the polling booth Tension had been building since the morning after Humayun Kabir visited a polling booth in the area following the casting of his vote. He was met with protests by TMC supporters, who raised “go back” slogans and surrounded his vehicle, calling him a ‘BJP agent’. The confrontation escalated near the polling station, with heated exchanges between supporters of both parties. Kabir later staged a sit-in protest at the spot, accusing the ruling party of intimidating voters and engaging in electoral malpractices. He also alleged that the TMC had bribed several of his party’s candidates to keep them out of the electoral fray. The ruling party did not immediately respond to the charge. Stone pelting, vandalism and heavy security deployment Officials said the situation worsened later in the day when supporters of both parties allegedly hurled stones and bricks at each other, creating a law-and-order situation in the area. “Both groups hurled stones and bricks at each other, leading to a law-and-order situation in the area,” a senior official said. Police and central forces intervened and used baton charges to disperse the crowd and restore order. Security personnel were deployed in large numbers in and around the polling station to prevent further escalation, another official said. Supporters were also seen using lathis during the clashes, while roadside vehicles were damaged in the violence. EC orders immediate action after viral video According to reports, the Election Commission has directed the immediate arrest of all individuals seen in the viral video of the alleged attack on BJP candidate Suvendu Sarkar. The incident comes as multiple reports of clashes between the BJP and TMC workers emerge from several parts of the state during polling. There have also been complaints of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions at various polling booths, adding to the tension during the voting process. BJP candidate’s car attacked in Asansol South The car of BJP MLA and candidate for the Asansol South Assembly seat, Agnimitra Paul, was attacked in the Rahmatnagar area of Burnpur. The rear window of her vehicle was broken. The MLA was inside the car at the time of the incident. Kabir demands action against police officer, TMC workers The unrest came a day after crude bombs were allegedly hurled in the Naoda area on Wednesday night, ahead of the first phase of polling. Following Thursday’s violence, Kabir demanded the removal of a local police officer, alleging that his supporters were subjected to a lathi charge overnight. “We want the Naoda police officer who lathi-charged my supporters overnight removed. This should not happen. The Election Commission should take action. A new officer should be posted there. Until then, I will continue my protest,” Kabir said. He also urged the Election Commission to take action against TMC workers allegedly involved in the clashes. An eyewitness to Wednesday night’s crude bomb incident said a woman was injured during the attack. “This happened between 8 and 8:30 pm. A woman was injured. We cannot say who was involved, but people here are scared that another incident could happen at any moment,” the eyewitness said. BJP and TMC workers clash in Siliguri In Siliguri, a clash broke out between BJP and TMC workers during voting. Voting was taking place at a polling booth at Jagdish Chandra Vidyapeeth in Siliguri. Meanwhile, outside the booth, workers from both parties got into an argument over something. Seeing the dispute escalate, security forces pacified both sides. Shankar Ghosh is the BJP candidate from this constituency. EVM malfunctions in Malda, crowd surrounds election officer A malfunctioning EVM at a polling booth in Malda caused a commotion. People outside the booth surrounded the election officer and staged a protest. Security forces later rescued the officer from the crowd and escorted him back inside the booth. High-stakes battle in West Bengal The incidents come as West Bengal witnesses a high-voltage contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Banerjee is seeking a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP, which won 77 seats in the previous Assembly election, is making a renewed push to form the government in the state. Polling in several constituencies has seen sporadic violence, allegations of voter intimidation and clashes between rival party workers, prompting increased deployment of security forces across sensitive areas. Polling is being held for all 294 Assembly seats in two phases. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covers 152 constituencies, while the second phase, scheduled for April 29, will cover the remaining 142 seats. A total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray in the first phase. Counting of votes will take place on May 4. Post navigation Major Reshuffle Takes Place As Shubhendra Katta’s Deputation in CBDT Extended by One Year Sabarimala case, Day 8:CJI says ‘Tharoor’s article personal opinion, not law’; Justice Nagarathna adds ‘don’t cite WhatsApp University’
