Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, May 2: Massive protests broke out in Falta area of West Bengal on Saturday, with locals alleging threats and intimidation by workers of the Trinamool Congress ahead of vote counting for the Assembly elections scheduled on May 4.

Tension escalated as protesters engaged in heated arguments with security personnel, accusing local leaders of issuing threats. Residents of Hasimnagar alleged harassment by TMC workers, claiming that groups entered the village, intimidated women, and assaulted villagers.

A resident alleged that a local TMC leader threatened severe consequences, including violence against women, if the party returned to power. Villagers said they had staged protests and blocked Dum Dum Road since the previous day, demanding action. When no arrests were made, they resumed demonstrations, during which police allegedly resorted to lathi charge, leading to injuries and hospitalisation of several persons, including women.

Protesters demanded a repoll in Falta, alleging that the electoral process had been compromised. They also called for the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces across the area to ensure voter safety.

The unrest comes amid repolling in 15 booths across Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour constituencies, ordered by the Election Commission of India following reports of irregularities during the second phase of polling.

According to poll officials, voter turnout during the repoll stood at 56.33 per cent in Magrahat Paschim and 54.9 per cent in Diamond Harbour, with an overall turnout of 55.57 per cent recorded till 1 pm.

Voting was largely peaceful across 11 polling stations in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour. However, at booth number 179 in Chanda Primary School under Diamond Harbour constituency, the TMC alleged that a specially abled voter and his mother were harassed by central forces, triggering fresh protests.

Party leaders, including Manmohini Biswas and Pratik Ur Rahman, reached the spot and led demonstrations, with residents terming the incident as unwarranted harassment. Poll authorities later stated that the matter had been addressed.

Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, officials said, adding that the repoll was conducted based on reports from returning officers and observers citing material irregularities.

In Magrahat Paschim, TMC candidate Md Samim Ahamed Molla is contesting against BJP nominee Goursundar Ghosh, along with Congress candidate Abdul Majid Halder and ISF’s Abdul Aziz Al Hassan. In Diamond Harbour, TMC’s Panna Lal Halder is in the fray against BJP’s Dipak Kumar Halder, while Congress candidate Goutam Bhattacharya and CPI(M)’s Samar Naiya are also contesting.