Kolkata Police on Saturday said legal action had been taken against the local mafia after electronic voting machines (EVMs) were looted in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal, ANI reported. Police claimed that the incident occurred in the morning before the election process began.
“This incident occurred in the morning, around 6 am, much before the election process in Bengal. Police and CAPF immediately intervened and took action against the miscreants. Legal action was initiated. Polling in Bhangar began without interruption and continue peacefully,” Kolkata police said. published in X.
According to ANI report, earlier today, a local mob looted electronic voting machines and two VVPAT machines were thrown inside a pond in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, officials said.
According to the Chief Election Office of West Bengal, the Sector Officer lodged an FIR and necessary action was initiated.
“Today morning at 6.40 am, Reserve EVMs and documents of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP School at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC), local mafia has looted the computer and 1 CU, 1 BU, 2VVPAT machines have been thrown into a pond,” the West Bengal CEO posted on X.
The CEO further informed that fresh documents and EVMs had been provided to the sector officer.
“The Sector Police was a little behind schedule. The Sector Officer lodged the FIR and necessary action was initiated. The voting process in all the six booths of the Sector is going on uninterrupted. Fresh EVMs and documents have been provided to the Sector Officer “. added the CEO.
BJP leader Amit Malviya criticized the incident and said democracy is on fire in West Bengal.
“Democracy is on fire in West Bengal. Bombs have been thrown in Bhangar of Jadavpur, angry villagers in Kulti of Joynagar have thrown an EVM and VVPAT machine into a pond because TMC goons are not letting them vote,” he posted. in X.
Malviya further said that Diamond Harbour, where Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and heir apparent is contesting, is the worst affected constituency.
“But the worst hit is Diamond Harbour, from where Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and heir apparent is contesting. BJP workers are being intimidated, they are not allowed to sit in booths, their election papers are checked and destroyed… WB police are acting like Abhishek Banerjee’s henchmen, not even Muslims have been spared because a large number of them are voting for CPI(M) candidate Pratikur Rahman, TMC’s ‘secularism’ dies by now when Muslims begin to vote against it,” he wrote. x.
Voting began at 7 am in all nine seats of West Bengal including Barasat, Basirhat, Diamond Harbour, Dum Dum, Jaynagar, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, Kolkata Uttar and Mathurapur.
Elections for the previous six phases of Lok Sabha elections were held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20 and May 25. Assembly elections were also held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be held in Odisha in the last four phases.