TMC Alleges CRPF Excess in Nandigram, EC Denies Incident Ahead of Polling
The ruling TMC in West Bengal lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday, alleging that central forces personnel used "disproportionate criminal force" on locals in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district.
An Election Commission official, however, said the complaint was investigated, but no such incident can be found.
The TMC alleged that CRPF personnel, deployed to ensure free and fair polling, "grossly abused their position" by assaulting locals "without any provocation" on April 21, resulting in injuries that required hospitalisation. The party also submitted purported photographs of the injured persons, along with the complaint. Voting will be held on April 23 in Nandigram, from where Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari is seeking another term.
The TMC has fielded Adhikari's former aide, Pabitra Kar, in the seat.
Adhikari is also fighting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, where elections will be held in the second phase on April 29.
The TMC alleged that the action of the central forces in Nandigram was in "direct and flagrant violation" of provisions of the EC's Manual on Force Deployment in Elections, which mandates that security personnel should not be used as a tool for harassment.
"The very forces deployed to ensure peaceful elections have turned hostile, leading to an erosion of public confidence in the electoral process," the complaint said.
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