Kolkata, March 14 – The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday sought a detailed report from Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar regarding the clashes between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the city.
The EC also sought a report on the attack on West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja's residence following the clashes, according to a senior state government official.
The poll panel further requested a detailed explanation as to why central paramilitary forces, which have already been deployed in the state in preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections, were not used to manage the situation.
It is worth noting that thirty companies of central police forces have been stationed in Kolkata to maintain law and order ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally, stones were allegedly thrown at the residence of State Minister Shashi Panja in Kolkata's Girish Park area.
Trinamool Congress workers claimed that BJP activists were responsible for these acts while en route to Prime Minister Modi's rally at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground.
Minister Panja alleged that she too was attacked during the incident.
The BJP has issued a counter-allegation, claiming that Trinamool Congress workers threw bricks at their activists as they were marching through the Girish Park area.
The Girish Park area effectively turned into a battleground over this incident.
Immediately following the incident, police from the Bowbazar Police Station arrived at the site along with the Rapid Action Force.
While attempting to bring the situation under control, Bappaditya Naskar, the Officer-in-Charge of the Bowbazar Police Station, sustained injuries from bricks thrown during the clash; additionally, several other police personnel were also injured in the incident.
Minister Panja, the victim of the attack, said, "Today, on their way to the Brigade rally, BJP workers unleashed a rampage right in front of my home. While our colleagues were putting up flex banners, a mob of goons wearing BJP caps – who were travelling in a bus – turned violent while chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'."