Soumitra Nandi
Kolkata: A police sub-inspector sustained bullet injury when he went to pacify the supporters of two political parties that clashed immediately after the end of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation vote, which witnessed a 62 per cent voter turn-out.
Police sources said that Jagannath Mondal, the sub inspector of Girish Park police station was on duty at the Singhi Bagan school ward number 26 when the incident took place. He was rushed to a nearby private nursing home and was soon shifted to a private hospital at Ekbalpore in South Kolkata. His condition is stated to be critical.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and City Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purkayastha visited the injured SI in the hospital.
State Election Commissioner S R Upadhay said, "If election was held in proper atmosphere, so many complaints would not have been made.
After going through all the reports we can tell you how many complaints are true and how many false."
When asked about the possibility of repoll, the SEC said the allegations were being looked into and any decision in this regard would be taken on Sunday. On the incidents of terror and violence, he said, "If such things really happened, it was bad for democracy”.
There were reports of sporadic violence all over the city. Crude bombs were hurled in front of the Raj Bhawan on Council House Street, allegedly targeting the Congress camp office. A few Congress supporters were injured in the incident and Congress candidate Santosh Pathak rushed to the spot. Another bomb was hurled in ward 60 of Beniapukur in front of Islamia School, which has been converted into a polling premise.
Three rounds of shots were allegedly fired at CPI(M) leader Fuad Halim, in front of the Indian Museum. While he was unhurt, he filed a complaint with the New Market police station. “Trinamool Congress supporters tried to capture the booth at ward 36. When they could not do so, they fired shots at me. I have filed a complaint with the West Bengal State Election Commission and the Kolkata Police,” said Halim. Two rounds of were also allegedly fired at ward number 109 at Ramgarh to terrorise voters.
Police commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayestha however said,” Initially our probe revealed that there was no firing. No trace of bullet was found when our team rushed to the spots. But a thorough investigation into the allegations is on.”
Apart from this, opposition party leaders claimed that voters were not allowed to cast their vote in several areas. Areas of Kankurgachi, Baghajatin, Santoshpur, Ganguly Bagan, Metiabruz, Beliaghata reported sporadic violence.
Trinamool Congress general secretary Partha Chatterjee dubbed the election as free and fair and alleged that the opposition is resorting to smear campaign in a bid to win sympathy of the voters. “We are confident that people will vote for our party irrespective of such allegations as those are all baseless,” said Chatterjee.