A BJP polling agent, Mosharaf Mir, was allegedly assaulted by a group of 15-20 individuals near Booth No. 53 in Chapra, Nadia district, during the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on 29 April, raising serious concerns over poll-related violence. Mir claimed the attackers were Trinamool Congress supporters who emerged from a nearby house armed with bamboo sticks, rods, and firearms.

The Nadia Attack: What Mir Said

Speaking to news agency IANS, Mir recounted the incident in detail. "I was going to Booth No. 53 around 5.40 in the morning as a BJP agent. We wanted a free and fair election so that people could cast their votes peacefully. But some Trinamool miscreants were hiding in the house of Jan Ali Molla. Suddenly, around 15-20 people came out from there with bamboo sticks, rods, and firearms. They hit me on the head with a rod. I fell, but they continued to beat me," he said. Mir added that four Indian Secular Front (ISF) agents present at the scene were also assaulted before the attackers fled.

Violence Spreads Across Districts

The Nadia incident was far from isolated. In South 24 Parganas, described as the epicentre of poll-day disturbances, tensions flared in the Saihati area of Bhangar Assembly constituency when All India Secular Front (AISF) sitting legislator and candidate Md Nawsad Siddique arrived at a polling booth. Trinamool Congress workers reportedly began shouting slogans, and the situation escalated after Siddique and his companions reacted angrily. Siddique alleged that polling had been peaceful since morning before Trinamool workers deliberately attempted to disrupt the process. Central forces intervened, separated the two groups, and restored order.

In Basanti, BJP candidate Vikas Sardar was allegedly attacked near Booth No. 76 when he went to inspect polling. His vehicle was vandalised, and an attempt was reportedly made to snatch the firearm of his personal security guard. Sardar alleged that central forces present at the scene did not intervene to rescue him. Tension has continued to prevail in the area since the incident.

Clashes in Hooghly and North 24 Parganas

In Sasan, North 24 Parganas, Trinamool Congress activists allegedly attempted to intimidate voters, triggering a strong counter-reaction from AISF supporters and local villagers. At Booth No. 147 of Ramchandrapur in Rajhati-1 panchayat of Khanakul Assembly seat, Hooghly district, AISF-Trinamool clashes broke out. AISF supporters alleged that the ruling party had forged polling agent forms to place its own agents inside the booth, and that their legitimate agents had been threatened and barred from entering since the night of Tuesday. The AISF candidate for Khanakul arrived at the booth, further inflaming the situation.

EVM Malfunction and Lathi-Charge in Howrah

In Howrah district, voters grew agitated after Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) malfunctioned at Don Bosco, Liluah Sohanlal Vidyalaya in Bali Assembly constituency. Central forces resorted to a lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. Polling agents from both the Congress and Trinamool Congress were reportedly injured in the action. Two people have been arrested, and a large police contingent remains deployed at the location. Notably, this is the second consecutive phase of Bengal elections to be marred by widespread allegations of poll-day violence, underscoring persistent concerns about the state's electoral environment.

With multiple incidents reported across at least four districts, election observers and opposition parties are likely to press the Election Commission of India (ECI) for a detailed account of the day's security lapses.