A mob protesting against the SIR hearings ransacked the Block Development Office and clashed with police in the Chakulia area of Uttar Dinajpur on Thursday. At least six policemen, including the local Inspector In-charge, were injured in stone pelting. Police said they have detained 10 people.
Taking cognisance of the incident, the Election Commission has sought a report from the District Magistrate, who also acts as the District Electoral Officer.
This is the second such incident in the last two days. On Wednesday, a BDO office was ransacked in Farakka.
According to the FIR registered on a complaint filed by Chakulia BDO, Sujay Dhar, a mob of around 300 people forcefully entered the office around 9.30 am, and started to ransack. “As a team of policemen reached the spot, they tried to combat the agitated mob by closing the main gate… Police personnel resisting the miscreants were also badly injured. They were all beaten up badly,” the BDO’s complaint to the police read.
According to the BDO, the ransacking and the protest continued for three hours till 12.30 pm, and the damage to official property was around Rs 20 lakh.
“Today, 500 hearings were scheduled after 11.00 am at the BDO office… Police and staff of BDO office tried to assure them that a normal process was going on, but the mob was not in a position to discuss or make any representation on that issue,” the complaint read.
The mob brought out the files, furniture, and other documents, and set fire to them. According to sources, SIR documents, including enumeration forms, were likely in the fire. When police tried to stop them, they started pelting stones at them.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Superintendent of Police (Uttar Dinjapur) Joby Thomas said, “A group of people started blocking roads leading to the BDO office in Chakulia on Thursday morning. The local I-C was there. He tried to lift the blockade, but the angry mob started attacking the police with stones. We resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob. They attacked the BDO office and ransacked it.”
“Our six police personnel have been injured, including I-C Raju Sonar. Two of them have been hospitalised. After the BDO filed a complaint, we lodged an FIR and have started investigating the incident. So far, ten people have been detained,” the SP said.
Local TMC MLA Minajul Arfin Azad defended the attack, saying his supporters were agitating against the SIR exercise.
“People are angry. It’s a mass outburst. When people have filled up form, then why are they summoned for hearings? From every booth, 70 to 80 people are being called for hearings. How many times do we need to show the papers? The protest of these people is justified,” Azad said.
“Our boys have agitated. If they do not understand, we will further agitate. If need be, we will go to Delhi and protest,” Azad added.
Meanwhile, a huge contingent of policemen, including Rapid Action Force (RAF), was deployed in the area. The situation was later brought under control.
On Wednesday, a BDO office in Farakka was ransacked during a sit-in protest by BLOs, who complained against the EC’s “frequent changes” in the rules for SIR hearings, leading to alleged harassment of electors.
“While the BLOs were holding the sit-in protest, local leaders and workers of the ruling TMC also joined the protest at the BDO office. They blocked the gate of the office and raised slogans for immediately halting the SIR process. The situation worsened when local TMC MLA Monirul Islam reached the spot,” said an official, adding the SIR hearings were temporarily suspended.
For the Chandigarh-Mohali region, the development carries emotional resonance. 
Share
