The West Bengal Police have initiated a formal investigation following violent confrontations between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters outside the state Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office on Strand Road.

The Hare Street Police Station has registered a suo motu case against several unidentified individuals. Authorities are currently scanning CCTV footage to identify those involved in the ruckus and determine their specific roles in the unrest.

The Spark: Allegations of “Voter Hijacking”

The tension erupted over the submission of Form 6 , the application used for new voter registration. The TMC has leveled serious allegations against the BJP, claiming the saffron party attempted to register roughly 30,000 “outsiders” from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh into Bengal’s electoral rolls in a single day.

TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee highlighted the massive influx of applications, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee characterized the move as an attempt at “voter hijacking.”

The Chief Minister has reportedly dispatched a formal letter to the Central Election Commission (CEC) regarding the matter.

Chaos on Strand Road

The situation escalated when TMC-backed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and party workers staged a protest outside the CEO’s office. The arrival of BJP workers led to heated exchanges, which quickly devolved into physical scuffles.

To restore order, a significant contingent of state police and central paramilitary forces was deployed. Officers eventually resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the agitated crowd.

Legal Restrictions and Official Response

In the wake of the violence, the Kolkata Police (Lalbazar) have tightened security measures:

* Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (formerly Section 144) has been extended to the western side of the CEO’s office.

* Public gatherings in the designated zones are strictly prohibited until further notice.
Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari countered the TMC’s claims, accusing the ruling party of inciting the public against central forces.

Seeking to lower the temperature, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal clarified that while any citizen has the right to submit registration forms, any applications received after March 30 will not be processed in time for the upcoming elections.

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