Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on July 12 said that around 150 people from West Bengal have sought refuge in Assam following violence in the State in connection with the panchayat elections.
“Around 150 people from West Bengal have come as refugees to Assam. They said that they have come because of the fear of violence in the panchayat elections. We have provided them with accommodation, food and medical facilities. Around 133 people are currently staying in relief camps,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Earlier on July 11, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that 133 individuals who feared for their lives sought refuge in Assam’s Dhubri district.
“Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri District of Assam. We have provided them shelter in a relief camp, food, and medical assistance,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared in a tweet.
On July 9, the West Bengal State Election Commission said the Police have confirmed ten deaths in poll-related violence across the State.
The West Bengal State Election Commission stated that the Police confirmed 10 deaths in the poll-related violence on July 8 that broke out in several parts of West Bengal on the day of the Panchayat Polls.
“Police have confirmed 10 deaths in poll-related violence,” said the West Bengal State Election Commission on Panchayat polls.
Violence broke out in West Bengal ahead of the Gram Panchayat elections, which were previously to be held on July 8. However, the voting day was marred with widespread violence, looting of ballots papers and rigging.
A person received fatal injuries after being hit by a crude explosive in the Phul Malancha polling booth in South 24 Pargana district.
In Murshidabad district, one of the worst affected due to violence, Trinamool Congress worker Babar Ali was killed in the Kapasdanga area. He was declared brought dead when he was brought to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in Baharampur.
A Trinamool Congress worker was killed in a crude bomb blast in Rejinagar in Murshidabad district on July 7. Another Trinamool worker was stabbed to death in Khargram in the district.
A Communist Party of India (Marxist) worker, Rajibul Hoque from Ausgram in East Burdwan district, succumbed to his injuries in NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. He was brought to the hospital after he was injured in a clash.
Trinamool booth president Devkumar Rai from East Midnapore’s Sonachura Gram Panchayat was also attacked.
There were reports of booth capturing, and assault of presiding officers from several districts such as Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Malda, South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur and Nadia.
Reports of ballot boxes being set on fire and clashes between political parties in different locations also emerged.
As a result, the State Election Commission announced the re-polling of the Panchayat election on July 10. So, it concluded on July 10 and the counting was carried out on July 11.
The Trinamool Congress won 28,985, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 7,764 seats, while Congress has secured 2,022 seats so far.
Trinamool Congress was leading on 1,540 panchayat seats while BJP was leading on 417, according to the State Election Commission (SEC) as of 10.30 pm on July 11.
West Bengal has 3,341 gram panchayats, and the number of village panchayat election centres is 58,594. There are 63,239 seats at the Gram Panchayat level, 9730 at Panchayat Samiti and 928 at the Zila Parishad level. The counting of votes will be held on July 11.
It is important to mention here that after the results of the Assembly polls 2021, around 300 to 400 people from North Bengal fled due to violence to Assam’s Dhubri and stayed in the relief camp.
In 2018, the Trinamool Congress won uncontested, 34 per cent of the seats in panchayat elections, which also saw various instances of violence.
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