Bomb, barricade, lock Opp out: TMC’s tactics in Bengal Panchayat polls, blow by blow

Bomb & blockade, 8 am: Three km away is Chhoani Primary School, it houses two booths. The road that leads to it is blocked by several TMC workers. Many local residents complain that despite security personnel present, they are not being allowed to go to the booth by the TMC men who are blocking their way.

At 8.20 am, a bomb goes off nearby. Ten minutes later, an ambulance speeds past the polling station.

“They are not allowing us to vote…we have accepted it. Two children in the neighbourhood have just got injured after they picked up a bomb,” says a relative of Alham Mollah, one of the injured children. Along with him, three-year-old Mantasha Khatun has also been injured.

Polling is underway at Chhota Jagulia Gram Panchayat, Barasat Block 1. (Express Photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Few are surprised. Says resident Mustakim Mollah: “Last two nights, we have hardly slept because of the bombs going off. The TMC threatened us that if we or ISF supporters even walk towards the booth, we will face consequences.”

At the local Jirangachha Health Centre, a nurse tells The Indian Express that Mollah’s got bomb splinters in his eye, hand and leg. Mantasha has injuries in her face and back. Both have been referred to RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.

Barricading Opposition, 10 am: Just 5 km from Chhoani, is Hatisala Purbapara, Bhangar 2 Block. A huddle at the entrance to this village points to a two-storeyed house whose iron gate is locked — from the outside.

A queue of people even in the afternoon at Booth No. 35 of Kadambagachi Village Panchayat. North 24 Pargana. Express Photo Shashi Ghosh

Inside, sit TMC candidate Mumtaj Mollah’s rival, ISF candidate Hajira Bibi and her brother Majnu Mollah.

“For the past four days, TMC miscreants have been threatening us not to leave the house. Last night, I left my house and took shelter at my brother’s home. At around 2 am, TMC men locked the house from outside,” Hajira Bibi tells The Indian Express. “The lock is small but no one dare break it,” says her brother. A group of policemen arrive at the house, they leave 10 minutes later without breaking the lock.

A resident and shop-owner, Md. Ibrahim Mollah, says that before Voting Day, the TMC’s “bike-bahini” (youths on bikes) “came morning, day, night, threatened us that if we go to vote, our shop will be set on fire.” He says that they planned to go to vote as a group “but last night, they hurled bombs.”

Mumtaj Mollah was unavailable for comment.

Missing Opposition, 12 noon: A 10-min drive from Hajira Bibi’s locked house is Hatisala Sarojini madrasa with three booths 41, 42 and 44. Over a dozen motor bikes are parked at its entrance, there are no Central forces, only state police. Young TMC workers were at the gate and inside, there were no agents from the Opposition ISF. “The Opposition could not give agents. So there are none, only our agents are here. See how peaceful the poll is,” says Pintu Mollah, a TMC worker. Asked about the absence of any agent from the Opposition, a policeman at the gate said: “We were told to only mind the queue of voters, nothing else.”

Trouble over panchayat polls in Pirgacha panchayat of North 24 Pargana. (Express photo Shashi Ghosh)

TMC is in charge, 12.30 pm: About 3 km away is the Bhagabanpur Panchayat. At the Maqsud Ali Girls School, which houses two booths, TMC workers are managing the lines with the police. Again, only TMC polling agents are visible; a polling staffer admitted ISF agents were asked to leave earlier in the day.

Where tables turn, 1 pm: Six km from the girls’ school is Tona Machidanga Oboitanik Primary school that has two booths 87 and 88. This is the bastion of TMC’s rival, Jami Jibika Bastutantra o Poribesh Raksha committee, that has led an agitation against a power unit in Bhangar. Nasima Bibi and Esraful Mollah are Independent candidates backed by this committee in two Panchayat seats against TMC’s Roshenara Bibi and Kayum Ali Mollah.

Rival red flags flood the narrow road to the school manned by six Central security personnel and two armed state police jawans. “Here TMC is getting a taste of its own medicine,” says Enamul Haque, leader of the Jibika committee. “After 15 years, people have been able to vote here. Now we are here…TMC is scared and that’s why their supporters are not coming here.”

When contacted, TMC Gram Panchayat candidate Sajjad Mollah told The Indian Express: “You can see they are not allowing our supporters to even approach the school.” Asked why the TMC was doing the same at other booths, Mollah declined to comment.

Even the trees are TMC, 1.45 pm: About 3 km away is the Uttargajipur Jamadarpukur Junior High School which has two booths 94 and 95. This is home to TMC strongman Arabul Islam. His brother Azizul Islam is the TMC candidate for the Zila Parishad. At every bend in the road, groups of TMC workers stand guard.

At the booths, there are no agents of the rival ISF. Asked about this, a TMC worker manning the booth says: “This is our turf. Everyone here is TMC, even the trees. How will you find others? Peaceful polling is taking place.”

Violence & vandalism, 3.30 pm: Almost 45 km away from Bhangar, the scene at Pirgacha school in Barasat is a picture of arson: the camp office of Independent candidate Taslima Bibi is ransacked, her posters and flags lie torn, her supporter Abdulla is battling for life in a local hospital after being allegedly beaten up by TMC workers early Saturday.

Abdulla’s wife Hasinara Bibi told Governor C V Ananda Bose, who visited her husband in hospital, that she wanted “exemplary punishment.” Local residents said that it was only after Bose’s visit that they got “courage” to go and vote.

At closing, 5 pm: Barely 2 km from Pirgacha school, Kadambagachi High School has three polling booths. Even at 5 pm, a long line of at least 100 voters snake around each. At least 50 bikes are parked in front of the school, most are of TMC workers – calling the shots as they manage the lines.

When Sabyasachi Dutta, Trinamool Congress incharge for Bhangar, was asked about the string of incidents across the booths, he said: “It’s being shown as if Bhangar has become Syria or Afghanistan during Panchayat polls. Our aim was to ensure no bloodshed in Bhangar. So we are successful.”