TMC candidate Prasun Banerjee 'roughed up' by Central Forces

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress candidate from Howrah Prasun Banerjee and his personal assistant Indranil Chatterjee were injured when Central Force jawans lathi-charged on them outside a booth in Howrah's Baltikuri on Monday.

Banerjee who is contesting from Howrah Lok Sabha constituency lodged a complaint against the Central Force jawans at Shibpur police station following the incident. The Election Commission has sought a report from the District Election Officer. Banerjee has received injuries in his hands and shoulder during the incident.

"A report has been sought. We are verifying the complaint against the Central Force jawans. The decision will be taken after a review is conducted," a senior official of the Election Commission said.

It was learnt that Banerjee went to Baltikuri area on Monday morning to inspect the situation. He was talking to some people outside the booth when a heated altercation broke out between Banerjee and a few Central Force personnel following which he was allegedly attacked without any intimation.

When Banerjee's assistant Indranil came to his rescue, he was also beaten up. The incident triggered a chaos outside the polling booth. Trinamool Congress supporters protested against the high-handedness of the Central Force jawans.

Banerjee alleged that they had stopped him when he was trying to enter the booth. The jawans allegedly tore apart his identity card when he showed it to them. A Central Force jawan was seen on television camera alleging that Banerjee was trying to forcibly enter the booth. Trinamool Congress leaders alleged that the Central Force jawans forced the people to cast their votes in favour of BJP in various places including Sankrail.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate from Bongaon Santanu Thakur sparked a controversy after he stepped into a polling booth in Thakurnagar to cast his vote with a scarf with the party symbol on it. The Election Commission has served a show-cause notice to the Presiding Officer. A report has been sought from the District Election Officer of North 24-Parganas in this regard.