Allegations of assault on a CPI-M worker have been levelled against the Trinamul Congress, as unrest erupted once again over wall writing campaigns. The CPI-M claims that Trinamul workers attacked one of its members, while the Trinamul has denied the charge. In a counterclaim, the Trinamul alleged that CPI-M workers were encroaching on walls designated for them and whitewashing them. The incident has caused a stir in the Saptagram area.
The clash occurred in Bansberia, within the Saptagram Assembly constituency of Hooghly district, reportedly over wall-writing on the premises of the Ganges Jute Mill.
Anirban Sarkar has been nominated as the CPI-M candidate for the Saptagram Assembly seat. According to the party, its workers were writing campaign slogans when Trinamul members arrived and demanded that the writings be erased. When the CPI-M workers refused, the Trinamul members allegedly turned aggressive and assaulted them. It is further alleged that one CPI-M worker was severely beaten.
Mohammad Sahid, a Trinamul councillor of Bansberia Municipality, said: “Even before the election schedule was announced, CPI-M workers began encroaching on various walls in Bansberia and applying whitewash. We did not object at the time. Later, however, they started whitewashing walls specifically designated for the Trinamul. They encroached on walls bearing slogans in support of our Lok Sabha candidate, Rachana Banerjee. Our workers merely told them to confine their writing to walls under their control. A minor verbal altercation followed; there was no physical assault.”
CPI-M candidate Anirban Sarkar said: “Our workers were writing slogans when Trinamul members arrived and assaulted them. One worker was specifically targeted and beaten. This shows the Trinamul is unwilling to allow a peaceful electoral process. They have begun creating obstacles from the very start of campaigning, including wall-writing activities. We now have serious concerns about whether people will be able to exercise their franchise freely. I strongly condemn the incident and will inform the party leadership as well as lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India.”