Voting in nine parliamentary constituencies in Bengal passed off peacefully on Sunday, barring stray incidents of violence.
The Telegraph sums up some of the incidents that took place in the seventh and the final phase of the general election:
Time: Wee hours
Place: New Town
What happened: A camp office of the BJP was ransacked a few hours before the polling started at Kadampur in New Town, which falls under the jurisdiction of Dum Dum Parliamentary constituency. The BJP alleged that Trinamul supporters had damaged the office to create chaos. Trinamul has denied the charge.
Time: 7.30am
Place: Belgachhia
What happened: A CPM polling agent was beaten up allegedly by Trinamul workers in front of a booth near R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The CPM alleged that the agent had been chased out of the booth soon after the polling had stated. When the agent was trying to contact CPM leaders to inform them about the incident, he was attacked. He was admitted to R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The CPM candidate of Calcutta North, Kaninika Basu, staged a protest against the attack and alleged that Trinamul had been carrying out proxy voting after the CPM agent had been forced out of the booth.
Time: 9am
Place: Tiljala
What happened: A clash took place between supporters of the BJP and Trinamul near a booth over alleged intimidation of voters. A BJP supporter sustained injury to the head and was rushed to hospital. Soon after the incident, BJP candidate of Calcutta North constituency, Rahul Sinha, arrived. Trinamul supporters gheraoed him, alleging he was creating trouble in the area while voting was on in a peaceful manner.
Time: 9.45am
Place: Deganga, North 24 Parganas
What happened: A group of youths riding three motorcycles started hurling crude bombs near booths 66 and 67 at Gilaberia in Deganga. The BJP alleged that Trinamul was trying to intimidate voters. A quick response team and a large police contingent reached the spot soon to tackle the situation. Sources said the police had chased away the group, which left some live bombs behind.
Time: 9.45am
Place: Ranigachi, Jadavpur
What happened: There was chaos at Ranigachi under the Jadavpur parliamentary constituency after the CPM alleged that Trinamul was carrying out proxy voting at some booths. The CPM candidate, Bikash Bhattacharyya, arrived. Police also reached the spot and dispersed people from near the booths.
Time: 11.30am
Place: Rabindra Sarani
What happened: A group of people hurled crude bombs near a booth on Rabindra Sarani. The police and the quick response team rushed to the spot and ensured that the voting process did not get affected. The BJP candidate of Calcutta North, Rahul Sinha, reached the spot and alleged that Trinamul-backed goons were trying to intimidate common voters after sensing that people’s mood was against Bengal’s ruling party.
Time: 12.15pm
Place: Budge Budge, South 24 Parganas
What happened: The car of BJP candidate of Diamond Harbour parliamentary constituency, Nilanjan Roy, was ransacked at Budge Budge allegedly by Trinamul workers. Roy alleged that Trinamul cadres had targeted him after he was visiting some booths in Budge Budge following complaints that cadres of the ruling party in Bengal were carrying out proxy voting. “They are trying to prevent me from visiting booths so that they can indulge in malpractices without any trouble,” said Roy.
Time: 12.30pm
Place: Mukundapur, Jadavpur
What happened: The car of an aide to Jadavpur BJP candidate, Anupam Hazra, was ransacked allegedly by some Trinamul workers. After receiving complaints that proxy voting was on at a booth in Mukundapur, Hazra arrived, along a local BJP leader. Some people gheraoed Hazra, alleging that the BJP candidate was creating trouble at the booth. The local BJP leader has sustained injuries.
Time: 12.40pm
Place: Tatra, Basirhat
What happened: A camp office of the BJP was ransacked in Basirhat’s Tatra by alleged Trinamul workers. Sayantan Basu, the BJP candidate of Basirhat Parliamentary constituency, reached the spot and staged a demonstration, alleging the Trinamul workers had been trying to capture the booth and that’s why the Opposition party’s camp was ransacked. He also said Trinamul was trying to intimidate common voters by removing the BJP camp.