A mob protesting against SIR hearings ransacked the Block Development Office (BDO) and attacked police personnel in Chakulia in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district on Thursday. The mob also brought out files, furniture and other documents from the BDO office and set fire to them.
According to sources, enumeration forms related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls are likely to be destroyed in the incident.
“People are angry. It’s a mass outburst. When people have filled out forms, why are they being called for hearings? In every booth, 70 to 80 people are being called for hearings. The figure for the Assembly constituency is in thousands. How many times shall we show you the papers? The protest of these people is justified,” said TMC Chakulia MLA Minajul Arfin Azad.
“Our boys have agitated. If they (the Election Commission of India and the BJP) do not understand, we will agitate again. If need be, we will go to Delhi and protest,” added Azad.
Jobi Thomas, Superintendent of Police, North Dinajpur district, said, “Some agitators blocked the road in front of the Chakulia BDO office. We tried to lift the blockade, but the public was agitated and attacked the police. We did lathicharge to disperse the mob. They attacked the BDO office as well and ransacked it. Six police personnel, including the inspector in charge, are injured. Two of them are hospitalised. After BDO filed a complaint, we lodged an FIR and started investigating the case. So far, 10 persons have been detained.”
The incident comes a day after a BDO was assaulted in Farakka under Murshidabad district. An anti-SIR mob allegedly led by TMC leaders had barged into the BDO’s office and assaulted him. They threw chairs at him and tried to ransack the room.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) intervened in the incident and sought a report from the District Election Officer, who is also the District Magistrate, and directed him to file a First Information Report.
Meanwhile, Farakka BDO Junaid Ahmed filed a complaint against unknown persons for ransacking his office. Later, two people were arrested in the incident.