West Bengal polls: Lockdown in strongroom areas after TMC, BJP clash

KOLKATA: Police locked down neighbourhoods within a 200-metre radius of all seven designated EVM strongrooms in the city Friday after Trinamool Congress's allegations of vote tampering triggered overnight confrontations with BJP at two locations.

Prohibitory orders issued by police commissioner Ajay Nand under Section 163 of BNSS bars assembly of five or more people, processions and demonstrations anywhere near the strongrooms. The restrictions will remain in effect until the end of vote-counting on May 4.





CM Mamata Banerjee's three-hour vigil at the Sakhawat Memorial High School strongroom in south Kolkata's Bhowanipore late Thursday had drawn hordes of BJP protesters to Lord Sinha Road, prompting security personnel to forcibly remove them around midnight.

The second flashpoint was Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in central Kolkata, where central armed police forces had to drag Trinamool and BJP workers away from each other to prevent a full-blown clash. Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Rupesh Kumar said additional forces had since been deployed at both trouble spots under the supervision of an additional commissioner and a deputy commissioner of police.

All surrounding roads were sealed, guardrails installed and access restricted to personnel carrying EC-issued QR-coded IDs. Lord Sinha Road remains entirely shut to civilians.

EC: No attempt to disruptpeace will go unpunished

Election Commission issued a statement citing Calcutta HC’s order to the civil and police administration to strictly deal with unlawful activities. “No attempt to disrupt peace will go unpunished,” it said.

Statewide, 700 companies of central forces have been deployed for “stability and unrest prevention”, EC said. All counting centres have three layers of security, supplemented by special patrolling in vulnerable zones.

Prohibitory orders have also been clamped around counting centres at Hastings House complex, APC Polytechnic College, St Thomas Boys’ High School, Ballygunge Govt High School and David Hare Training College in Kolkata.

After inspecting a counting centre in Purulia, CEO Manoj Agarwal said the security protocol in place for counting day would prove “sufficient” to ensure the electoral exercise is hitch-free.

EC has set up a helpline (18003450008) for complaints, assuring confidentiality. Grievances, if any, can also be emailed to wbfreeandfairpolls@gmail.com.