Bharati under EC scanner for 'threatening' TMC workers

Kolkata: The Election Commission is examining some controversial statements of former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh, who is contesting from the Ghatal Lok Sabha Constituency on BJP's ticket.

Trinamool Congress has moved to the Election Commission, registering a complaint against Ghosh, who had courted controversy after she was caught on camera threatening Trinamool Congress supporters that they would be "dragged out of their houses" and "thrashed like dogs" if they intimidate voters.

She went ahead and said that she would bring "1,000 boys from Uttar Pradesh" to beat up TMC workers. She made the controversial statement while campaigning at Ghatal constituency.

The incident took place on Saturday at Anandapur village of Ghatal. It was claimed that a few people had complained to her that some Trinamool Congress supporters were threatening them to cast their votes in favour of Trinamool Congress when Ghatal goes to polls in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. "If they (Trinamool Congress) try to frighten anyone, we will pull them out of their houses and thrash them like dogs. I will bring a thousand boys from Uttar Pradesh and deploy them here. The TMC workers who were trying to intimidate people won't be found again," Ghosh allegedly told the people.

Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee on Saturday reacted sharply to Ghosh's comment and said that she was threatening people. He also asked questions on the role of the Election Commission.

"Are the eyes of the Election Commission shut? She was threatening to bring goons from Uttar Pradesh. Is she a Lok Sabha candidate?" Chatterjee questioned.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh on Sunday backed the former IPS officer, saying that she has said the right thing.