Teenager killed in West Bengal panchayat poll violence

A 17-year-old teenager was killed at Deganga in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, the latest victim of violence related to the upcoming panchayat elections in the State

A 17-year-old teenager was killed at Deganga in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, the latest victim of violence related to the upcoming panchayat elections in the State.

Class XI student Imran Hasan suffered injuries after crude bombs were hurled at a rally organised by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters late on Tuesday night. The teenager’s father, who was with him when the attack occurred, said that bombs were suddenly hurled from a house. Tension has been building for a while in the Sawaisekhpur gram panchayat of Deganga block, between supporters of the TMC supporters and those of an independent candidate supported by Opposition parties, including the Left parties and the Indian Secular Front.

Also read: West Bengal panchayat polls 2023 | Unceasing violence and political muscle flexing

After the incident, TMC supporters attacked the house from where the crude bombs were allegedly hurled. Five persons were arrested in connection with the violence at Deganga.

The teenager’s death comes a day after the State’s Director General of Police Manoj Malaviya said that the situation in the State was under control, claiming that only two or three incidents of violence had occurred in the State.

So far, 15 persons have lost their lives in violence since the notification of panchayat polls was issued on June 8.  The majority of those killed were TMC supporters. In the past 24 hours, violence was reported from different parts of the State, including at Suti in Murshidabad district, Manikchak in Malda, Ranaghat in Nadia and Kulpi in South 24 Parganas district. Voting for the panchayat polls will be held on July 8.

Opposition parties blamed the State Election Commission for the death of a teenager who had not even attained the age of exercising his franchise, but still fell victim to the violence. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said that State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were responsible for the death. Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary Md. Salim said that the Governor should summon the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary for the incidents of violence instead of indulging in the “tamasha” of meeting families.