Kolkata, Mar 31 (PTI) A group of booth-level officers (BLOs), perceived to be backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress, on Tuesday protested outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office here over alleged voter list manipulation, and scuffled with the police and BJP workers.
During the protest, stones were allegedly thrown towards the central forces personnel who were posted there guarding the CEO’s office, while two-wheelers parked nearby were damaged before senior police officers, including DC Central YS Jagannath Rao and more forces, reached the spot to contain the situation.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had earlier in the day visited the office of the CEO to lodge a complaint against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of instigating unrest, a senior police officer said.
Shortly after his departure, the BLOs started protesting the alleged misuse of Form 6 for voter registration, he added.
According to the allegations, Form 6 was being used to enrol voters from NDA-ruled states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh into West Bengal’s electoral rolls.
The Trinamool Congress also voiced its opposition by posting a video on social media purportedly showing the submission of Form 6.
In the post, the ruling party alleged: “The design is clear. Bring in voters from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Change Bengal’s demography. Change Bengal’s verdict. Erase Bengal’s voice before a single vote is cast.” Later, BJP workers holding party flags gathered at the same spot, which led to heightened tension.
Police intervened to control the crowd, leading to a scuffle between personnel and protesters.
“We stepped in to maintain law and order as the situation was getting out of hand. Minimal force was used to disperse the gathering,” a senior police officer present at the scene said.
Policemen also used the public address system, urging protesters to vacate the area, which is under prohibitory orders.
Barricades were put up, and vehicular movements were regulated on the Strand Road, considered a crucial route to Howrah railway station.
The protesters on Tuesday also claimed that BJP supporters had attacked them during the unrest.
“Our members were provoked and assaulted. We demand a fair inquiry into the incident,” a representative of the protesting group said.
The situation remained tense for some time before additional forces were deployed outside the CEO’s new office on Strand Road to bring it under control.
The BLOs started a demonstration demanding that the CEO answer “how people could submit Form 6 at the poll body office.
Earlier in the day, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the BJP of attempting to illegally include voters from outside West Bengal in this state’s electoral rolls in bulk by means of Form 6 applications.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had alleged on Monday that nearly 30,000 Form 6s were submitted by the BJP in a single day to register residents of other states as voters in West Bengal. PTI SCH NN
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