CISF firing kills 4 in Coochbehar in 4th phase Assembly polls

Coochbehar: Five people, including a first-time voter, died in Sitalkuchi Constituency in Coochbehar district on Saturday during the fourth ...

Coochbehar: Five people, including a first-time voter, died in Sitalkuchi Constituency in Coochbehar district on Saturday during the fourth phase of the Assembly polls in Bengal. Four people were killed when CISF personnel opened fire in ‘self-defence’ in Sitalkuchi’s booth no 126, allegedly after coming under attack from locals, who "attempted to snatch their rifles” in Sitalkuchi.

Debasish Dhar, Superintendent of Police, Coochbehar, said, “A person fell unconscious in front of booth no 126. While he was being treated, the CISF came to enquire about the matter and rumours started spreading that a villager was beaten up by CISF personnel. Around 300 to 400 villagers turned up at the booth with hand-made weapons. They tried to snatch the rifles from the CISF personnel. The CISF then opened fire and four people were killed in the incident.”    

 The Election Commission adjourned polling at Sitalkuchi polling station no 126 after the death of four civilians, based on the interim report from Special Observers.

The Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab said, "Investigation will be conducted in connection with the deaths of a first time voter and four persons. We will also be conducting an investigation. So far, six have been arrested." 

 The TMC claimed that all the dead were TMC workers. A TMC delegation has filed a complaint with the EC. 

 The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded the resignation of Amit Shah while addressing a public rally

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the deaths in Coochbehar and has urged the EC to take strict action against those who were responsible for the deaths.

 CPI(M) polit bureau member Md. Salim said, “We unequivocally condemn today's incident of firing and killings by the Central Para-Military forces. An enquiry under judicial supervision should begin at once.”

 Anand Burman, a first-time voter, was shot dead by miscreants while standing in a queue to cast his vote. He was allegedly dragged outside polling booth number 85 in Sitalkuchi’s Pathantuli area and shot dead, police said.

Forty-four constituencies went to the polls in Howrah (Part II), South 24 Parganas (Part III), Hooghly (Part II) in south Bengal and in north Bengal’s Alipurduar and Cooch Behar.

 Around  76.16  per cent  turnout was recorded till 6.30 PM during voting for the fourth phase of the state Assembly polls. Union Minister Babul Supriyo, West Bengal ministers Partha Chatterjee, Aroop Biswas and former Indian cricketer turned politician Manoj Tiwary are in the fray in this phase.