TMC leaders meet EC, raise concerns over ‘Central agencies intimidating citizens’

The TMC said the ECI had decided to create district intelligence committees for areas deemed “financially sensitive” and these committees were being created in West Bengal for the first time.

These committees would members from state and Central agencies’, including those from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The TMC said the ED had been focusing on Opposition leaders, particularly during elections, “casting serious doubt on its independence”.

“Until March 2023, the ED had registered 5,906 cases, yet it concluded investigations and filed chargesheets in only 1,142 cases. Among these, the ED has resolved a minimal 25 cases, accounting for a mere 0.42% of the total registered cases. Remarkably, out of these 25 cases, the ED secured convictions in 24, indicating an alleged 96% conviction rate as asserted by the agency. Given this, it is imperative that we question the role of ED in District Intelligence Committees,” the TMC wrote.

The party also raised concerns over the deactivation of Aadhaar, alleging that thousands of people in the state had faced this.

“We refer this to you only because there is genuine apprehension of deletion of names of Aadhaar card holders from the electoral roll…In this situation, we seek your protection so that the affected persons are not debarred from casting their votes in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections,” the TMC wrote.

They also raised the issue of deployment of Central forces during the state assembly elections in 2021, alleging that whole conducting route marches in some places, “some of the personnel of central forces started banging on the front doors of people’s houses. The residents were threatened with dire consequences if there was any violence in the areas, etc.”

The party said CISF personnel had resorted to firing on polling day in Coochbehar district’s Shitalkuchi district.

“The Central force pleaded innocent, predictably, describing the firing as an act of ‘self- defence’. The forces did not even follow the SOP while firing in so-called ‘self-defence’ as all the bullets hit the head, chest, and back of the victims. Till today, none of the culprits have been punished as the killers have refused to cooperate with the state investigating agency. In the circumstances, we urge upon you to ensure that the Central forces behave, function and conduct themselves as per requirements of law-under the proper supervision of ECI and State government officials during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections,” the TMC said.

The MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Pratima Mondal, Dola Sen, Sajda Ahmed, and Saket Gokhale, urged the commission to take urgent action.