
The Election Commission of India on Saturday barred the entrance of any political leaders in the Cooch Behar district. The EC also mentioned that the order should be followed with immediate effect for the next 72 hours.
“In Cooch Behar district where voting shall be over by today, no political leader from any national, state, or other party should be allowed to enter the geographical boundaries of the district for the next 72 hours with immediate effect”, the Election Commission said, quoted by the news agency ANI.
In Cooch Behar district where voting shall be over by today, no political leader from any national, state, or other party should be allowed to enter the geographical boundaries of the district for the next 72 hours with immediate effect: Election Commission pic.twitter.com/DuWUAZYwtF
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021
The recent order comes after the fourth phase of the Bengal assembly elections began on Saturday which ultimately led to the clashes between the TMC and BJP workers as the voting was underway at the Sitalkuchi booth in Cooch Behar. Amid the clash, four people were shot dead.
Earlier in the day, the poll panel issued a press statement over the Cooch Behar firing incident and said that the CISF jawans had no alternative but to fire as they were surrounded by a large number of people.
According to the police, four persons were killed as CISF personnel allegedly opened fire after coming under attack from locals, who “attempted to snatch their rifles”.
Four people killed and four injured in incidents of firing in Cooch Behar during the fourth phase of #WestBengalElections2021 today. TMC alleges that the firing was done by Central Forces. Visuals from Cooch Behar. pic.twitter.com/i472hSkpMy
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021
An India Today report quoted a press statement released by the Election Commission and the poll panel said that the voting process was going on “smoothly” at booth number 126 under Sitalkuchi assembly seat when a young boy named Manik Md was sick and was in the vicinity of the polling booth, and two-three local women were taking care of him.
The CISF jawans present at the polling station inquired about the boy’s health and asked them if they would like to send him to the hospital in a vehicle of the local police that was nearby.
“However, some other local people thought that the boy was beaten by the CISF personnel, and as a result of such a misunderstanding a few people present there raised hue and cry and assembled nearly 300-350 villagers, including some women with household equipment that could hurt someone brutally,” the statement said.
The poll panel’s statement further added that due to this “misunderstanding”, the agitated mob attacked the CISF personnel who were detailed at the polling booth with “deadly equipment”.
Speaking about the incident that occurred on Saturday morning, TMC leader Dola Sen in a press conference expressed concerns over the firing at the TMC workers and mentioned that Central Forces are doing injustice to people and they have crossed limits.
“When Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called them out, EC issued her notices,” Sen reportedly added.