Cooch Behar violence began after rumour over fainted man at polling booth: Police

Rumour over a person who fainted in the polling booth, that he had been supposedly “beaten up” by security forces, led to the violence in Sitalkuchi Assembly constituency of Cooch Behar district in West Bengal on Saturday (April 10), police has said.

At least four people were killed in the subsequent firing by forces after clashes broke out and the Election Commission (EC) has adjourned voting at polling station number 126 following the incident.

Cooch Behar SP Debasish Dhar told reporters that a man had fainted in front of the polling station. “People there thought that the CISF there had beaten him up. A rumour spread on the basis of this, following which around 350 people attacked the forces with hand made weapons,” Dhar said.

The central forces had opened fire outside a polling booth after being gheraoed by a group of angry voters, who allegedly tried to snatch their rifles, he said.

SP Cooch Behar @WBPolice speaks on violence

“Attempt to snatch weapon of security personnel”

Bengal police punctures argument that CAPF personnel were perpetrators of violence pic.twitter.com/fDaLyaFiZB

— 🦏 Payal M/પાયલ મેહતા/ पायल मेहता/ পাযেল মেহতা (@payalmehta100) April 10, 2021

The Trinamool Congress has claimed the deceased to be its workers.

Report suggests that the firing took place after a clash broke out between the BJP and TMC workers.

The incident comes a day after the EC served notice to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking explanation about her remark against central forces. Banerjee had in Cooch Behar district asked people, especially women voters, to “gherao” the central forces if they prevent them from voting.

Taking serious exception to the remark, the poll body had accused Banerjee of inciting women voters to attack the security personnel, in violation of the election rules. In her response on Saturday, Banerjee said she didn’t violate the Model Code of Conduct or incite the electorates against the central forces.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who’s in Sligiuri, called the deaths very saddening and said, “My sympathies are with the families of those who died, I condole their demise. Didi and her goons are perturbed, seeing the people’s support for BJP. She has stooped to this level as she can see her chair slipping away.”

“The CRPF opened fire on people standing in a queue to vote, killing four in Sitalkuchi. I’ve been apprehending that the forces would act in such manner for long. As BJP knows it has lost the people’s mandate, they are conspiring to kill people,” Banerjee charged. The chief minister alleged this was part of a conspiracy hatched by the Union home minister.

Voting is being held in 44 seats during the current fourth phase of the election in West Bengal. Results will be declared on May 2.