Cooch Behar: Opened fire in self defence, says CISF

KOLKATA: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) that opened fire at Mathabhanga's

Sitalkuchi

in

Cooch Behar

in north Bengal on Saturday, said that it did so in self defence after a mob attempted to snatch weapons. At least five persons were killed in the

firing

during the 4th Phase of polling in the West Bengal Assembly Elections.



The incident has sparked off a political battle between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While TMC supremo and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has demanded the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah, the BJP has accused her of inciting her party workers against the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel on duty during the polls.

"The first incident occurred at Booth 126 of the Amtali Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra, Jor Patki, Sitalkuchi. Around 9.35 am, a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the CISF 567/C headed by company commander Inspector E Sunil Kumar was attacked by a mob of miscreants, about 50 to 60 in number. This was when they were taking a round of area along with local police representatives to clear people attempting to resist voters from reaching polling booths. In the melee, a child fell down and miscreants started damaging the QRT vehicle and attacking personnel," claims CAPF spokesperson S S Guleria.

The QRT personnel reacted in self-defence and fired six rounds in the air to disperse the mob. Deepak Kumar, DC and adhoc commandant, 567 CISF reached the spot and pacified the mob and then left the spot, Guleria added.

According to Guleria, another mob of nearly 150 people reached Booth 186 after an hour and started manhandling polling staff. They first beat up the Home Guard personnel on duty and then an Asha.

"CISF booth commander tried to pacify the miscreants but the mob entered the polling booth and beat up other polling staff on duty. Some miscreants tried to snatch the weapons of CISF personnel deployed there. As the situation got out of control, CISF personnel fired two rounds in the air but mob didn't pay any heed to the warning," he said.

"Meanwhile, QRT of CISF and state police also reached the spot. The mob advanced aggressively towards the CISF personnel and sensing imminent danger to their lives, they fired seven more rounds. While this was on, more state police personnel arrived at the booth. It has been reported that this team also fired a few rounds in self defence. The mob finally dispersed and polling was halted. We received reports that 5-6 miscreants succumbed to injuries," Guleria added.

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