TMC councillor faces post poll violence allegations

Kolkata: TMC councillor from Beleghata was named in an FIR lodged regarding post-poll violence cases from 2021 to 2024.A case of trespassing, ransacking and theft has been registered against KMC Ward 35 councillor Ashutosh Das and 13 other party supporters for their alleged involvement in post-poll violence related to the previous Lok Sabha elections. He is being issued a notice to join the investigation even as Trinamool claimed that this was a “political witchhunt.”The case was registered on Thursday, after the complaint was lodged by Rita Rajak, a resident of Kabi Sukanta Sarani at Beleghata, and an avowed BJP supporter.According to police sources, the complaint named Das alongside local party workers, including Chandranath Dalad , Agniban Basu , Samir Das and Sanjoy Das , among others behind organising an attack on her.The FIR invokes multiple sections under the penal framework, focusing on criminal trespass, damage to property and theft executed in furtherance of common intention.The incident is said to have unfolded in 2024, when the city went to the polls during the Lok Sabha elections. The complainant alleged that TMC supporters, led by the local leadership, forcefully breached her residence.The political clash turned into vandalism. The miscreants allegedly went on a rampage inside the house.The complaint further claimed that the attackers also committed theft.While the incident took place two years ago, police officials stated that the formal case was regularised following a detailed instruction by CM Suvendu Adhikari to probe old post-poll violence cases.Local TMC leadership, however, has dismissed the allegations.