Four injured in stray violence, Trinamool, CPM trade charges

Amid high voter turnout, the much-hyped by-elections at Nandigram in East Midnapore passed peacefully on Monday.

“The turnout at 176 booths in Nandigram was more than 80 per cent. Except some stray incidents, when two persons received injuries, the polling was peaceful,” District Magistrate Choten Dhendhup Lama told The Indian Express.

“At some places, people tried to create disturbance. We arrested nine persons, of whom one was released later,” Lama added.

Nearly 1,500 personnel of Central forces manned the polling booths and patrolled various areas. “The election was unexpectedly peaceful. We neither seized any arms nor arrested anyone. We never expected this kind of an election in Nandigram,” said Ajay Mishra, Commandant of 94 battalion of CRPF. Seven companies of CRPF and eight of BSF were deployed in Nandigram to prevent any untoward incident.

Polling went on peacefully since morning at booths of Nandigram 1 and Nandigram 2 blocks. Around 4.30 pm, four persons, who were on their way to vote in Reyapara, were allegedly beaten up by a mob.

According to sources, Bhim Dasi, Kalyani Dasi, Saraswati Dasi and Subrata Debnath, were on their way to the polling booth, when a few miscreants attacked them at Reyapara crossing. Subrata Debnath, who received serious injuries was admitted in the Tamluk hospital and the others were discharged later.

Both the CPM and the Trinamool claimed that the victims were their supporters. “We have received a complaint and sent a huge force to the area. The culprits will be arrested soon,” Deputy Inspector-General (Midnapore range) Pravin Kumar said.

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