Poll panel asks DM,SP to explain firing at villagers

The booth polled only 525 votes in 13 hours. It had a total of 1,038 voters.

According to reports,after 8 pm,when around 500 people were still waiting to cast their votes,the villagers started agitating demanding that two more enclosures be set up at the booth to speed up the voting process.

However,the quick response team of the central forces reached the spot and resorted to lathicharge.

The forces also fired three rounds at the villagers. A bullet hit SUCI worker Amol Haldar (25) on his head. He was taken to a local health centre where he was declared dead.

It has been learnt that the SEC has ordered repolling at Dara village.

According to police sources,there was no order to fire and the villagers were agitating peacefully. There was also no instance of attacking any government officer and the villagers

neither tried to snatch the ballot box and or were forcing entry into the booth.

SUCI MP from the area Tarun Mondal said they wanted a judicial inquiry into the incident. “This area is a strong support base of SUCI and our workers and supporters have never resorted to violence. On Friday,while the agitation was going on,they had maintained peace at the booth premises. Why did the security forces open fire when there was no provocation? The villagers and the family members of the victim want an answer,” said Mondal.

Haldar,who belonged to a hardcore SUCI family,got married three months ago. Ever since the news of his death reached his wife,Tumpa,she has been inconsolable. Amol and his brother Bimal used to work in a local shop.

SUCI MLA of Joynagar Tarun Nasakar said,”The family must get compensation and one of its members should be given a job. We have called a bandh in the area tomorrow to protest the unprovoked firing.”