Trouble broke out in Belgachhia East constituency this afternoon when intellectuals, including Sunanda Sanyal, were allegedly heckled by CPM supporters in front of a booth in Salt Lake.

Sanyal, president of the Ganamukti Parishad, along with other community NGOs like Humanity, had been making the rounds of various booths in Salt Lake, a part of Belgachhia East constituency, when they were allegedly attacked by CPM supporters at Baisakhi.

While Sanyal claimed they had stayed 200 meters from the booth as ordered by the Election Commission, local CPM supporters said they had strayed inside the 200 meters. A scuffle broke out with the CPM supporters allegedly driving them out of the booth and calling them Maoists.

“We are free citizens and are free to travel around the city. All we wanted to ensure was free and fair election in the area. But CPM supporters and members hit us, abused us and although we did not go within 200 meters of the booth, they used foul language at us. All this while, police just watched silently,” said Sanyal.

After the incident, members of the NGO were forced to leave the area. While they claimed they had permission from the EC to go around various booths, the police said they were unable to provide any documents.

“If they have been given the permission, they have to produce documents to prove. Unless they do so, they will not be allowed anywhere near the booth,” said additional SP Debabrata Das who was present during the incident.

... contd.