Bengal polls: Central forces baton charge agitated Trinamool activists targeting Suvendu Adhikari

Kolkata: The central forces deployed at Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata, which is witnessing the electoral battle between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, resorted to a baton charge to disperse agitated Trinamool Congress activists.

The Trinamool workers were staging a protest and shouting slogans against the LoP in the Kalighat area, quite close to the official residence of the Chief Minister.

As Adhikari reached the Jai Hind Bhavan at Kalighat, the Trinamool Congress supporters led by the party’s councillor and the Chief Minister’s sister-in-law, Kajori Banerjee, started staging a protest. They surrounded Adhikari and his associates, raising “Jai Bangla” and “Thief” slogans. Some of them were even seen rushing towards Adhikari and his associates.

Adhikari and his associates countered by shouting “Jai Shri Ram” and “Hindu-Hindu Bhai Bhai” slogans, which escalated the tension. Thereafter, the central forces present there resorted to a baton charge to disperse the agitated Trinamool Congress activists and were finally able to drive them away.

“Such hooliganism will just help to increase my polling margin. Bhabanipur is a place of gentlemen. My calculation says that finally, Bhabanipur will witness over 80 per cent of polling. In that case, my victory is assured. If the polling percentage crosses 90, my winning margin will be even higher.

Kajori Bandopadhyay, however, denied Adhikari’s allegations and said that when the polling was going on peacefully, Adhikari reached the spot and started instigating people.

Adhikari had already lodged a complaint in the matter with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal.

Meanwhile, in Howrah (Madhya) Assembly constituency in Kolkata-adjacent Howrah district, a young man was spotted walking around in the Narsingh Bose Lane area with a sharp-edged weapon. Trinamool Congress alleged that the young man was threatening the residents of the area to vote for the BJP. On receiving the information, the cops from the local Shibpur Police Station went to the spot and arrested the person.

The weapon was also recovered. Efforts are on to identify him. However, the BJP has dismissed the Trinamool Congress’ allegations.

IANS