Kolkata, Sept. 23 -- The BJP's Assembly poll slogan, "Bhoy out, Bhorsha in", appeared a cruel contrast for residents of Salt Lake's BB Block on Sunday as a housing association election turned violent, with a group allegedly backed by the BJP storming the venue, assaulting voters and vandalising the premises.
The violence left elderly residents, including women, terrified and forced the election to choose a new executive committee to be halted. Ballot papers were torn up, the ballot box was taken away and venue property was damaged.
Residents said trouble began midway through polling when unidentified outsiders allegedly backed by the BJP entered and demanded that voting be stopped. They allegedly insisted that their pre-selected panel be accepted without an election.
The group, allegedly brought in by the faction opposing the existing board, intimidated and manhandled voters and polling personnel, residents claimed. Several elderly residents, including women, were reportedly assaulted, while an elderly returning officer was allegedly threatened.
Videos recorded by residents and circulating on social media purportedly show men vandalising the venue and manhandling senior citizens.
Residents also alleged that policemen present left during the vandalism.
Police said complaints and counter-complaints were lodged at Bidhannagar North police station and a preliminary inquiry initiated under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita.
Bidhannagar MLA Sharadwat Mukherjee denied BJP involvement and said the dispute was between rival factions.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.