Trinamool activists attack poll officials

Trinamool Congress activists Thursday allegedly assaulted Election Commission (EC) officials in West Bengal's Malda district after they objected to a rally of the party's candidate from Malda South, Moajjim Hussain, the district authorities said.

The incident happened in Manikchak area in the district, when the EC team objected to a motorbike rally, which was prohibited. As soon as the officials protested, several Trinamool activists assaulted them.

Confirming the incident, Malda District Magistrate S.K. Dwivedi told IANS: "A report in this regard has been sought from the block development officer, and whoever is found guilty will be punished."

Though caught on camera, Hussain has denied his presence at the site.

The incident comes a day after Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking at a rally, vowed to avenge the "insult" inflicted by the EC when it ordered the state government to transfer eight officials.

"The insult, that you have meted us by transferring our SPs (superintendents of police) and DMs (district magistrates), will be avenged. But, it will be through ballots and not bullets," Banerjee said Wednesday after her government executed the EC's order of transferring the officials, including five SPs and a DM.

The Congress and the CPI-M, both have attacked Banerjee over the incident and urged the EC to take suitable action.

"The way the CM is publicly attacking the EC and vowing to avenge, it is spurring her party workers to do what they are doing, it is shameful," CPI-M leader Rabin Deb said.

Echoing similar views, Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya stressed the need for taking stringent action to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Earlier, the BDO of Habra in North 24 Parganas district alleged that he was assaulted and insulted by the Trinamool activists for removing Banerjee's banners and posters. In Howrah, an election team was attacked by Trinamool workers for removing the party flags.