Rejinagar/Kolkata: The Rejinagar bypoll saw widespread allegations of police interference and rigging and detention of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir , prompting the entire opposition to demand a fresh election.
When Kabir, father of AJUP candidate Golam Nabi Azad, visited a party office 700 metres from a polling station, Rejinagar IC Anjan Barman ordered him to head home. Released after 12 hours in detention, he told reporters late on Tuesday, “I will recommend a Padma Shri for the Murshidabad SP and a Bharat Ratna for EC. “Why should I go? How can you push me out of here? Kabir shouted. Video footage showed police grabbing him by the shirt and bundling him into a vehicle and taken to Rejinagar police station.
Earlier in the day, Kabir alleged that police had forced his party’s agents out of booths and confiscated voter slips.
He also alleged that his party’s agents were driven out of over 200 booths and polling began before the scheduled time at many places.
Police said Kabir was neither a candidate nor an authorised agent of any candidate, and accused him of provoking unrest. Mamata Trinamool candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury mentioned “booth capturing, rigging and the blocking of polling agents” in his complaint to EC. Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said, “You will be surprised by the Rejinagar result.
Murshidabad SP Sachin Makkar backed the police action, while Election Commission (EC) sought a report of the incident. In front of one of the booths, BJP candidate Shankharavh Sarkar got involved in an altercation with central forces after he was ordered to move away for shaking hands with voters in the queue. The minority community has moved past Babri Masjid and is demanding jobs and factories in the state.”