At least three persons sustained injuries, including a CRPF personnel, in the violence. The jawan of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) suffered a bullet injury.
“On the night of April 26 at around 11 PM, a retired police officer and contesting candidate from Jagatdal Assembly Constituency, visited Jagatdal Police Station to lodge an FIR. Somehow the opposing candidate’s supporters came to know that information regarding his visit. A violent mob of approximately 200 persons gathered at the police station. The mob unlawfully entered the police station premises, creating a serious law and order situation,” ECI said.
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The incident occurred on Sunday night and involved in stone-pelting, firing and the use of crude bombs, sources said.
“During this escalation, the mob also attacked CAPF personnel, resulting in injury to a CISF constable, indicating a grave deterioration of the situation and a direct challenge to law enforcement authority,” ECI said.
On receipt of the information CAPF parties led by DFC Alok proceeded to the spot, ECI said.“Coordinated raids were conducted in more than a dozen locations in association with DCP Barrackpore. As a result, four accused persons have been arrested: Koushik Das (27 years), resident of Priti Nagar under Jagatdal Police Station, Sikander Prasad (39 years), Gopal Routh and Shyamdev Shaw (55 years), ECI said in a statement.
“On the night of April 26 at around 11 PM, a retired police officer and contesting candidate from Jagatdal Assembly Constituency, visited Jagatdal Police Station to lodge an FIR. Somehow the opposing candidate’s supporters came to know that information regarding his visit,” ECI said in a statement.
“In order to rescue the candidate, another candidate, reached the spot, following which the mob turned more aggressive. Both individuals, with the help of their supporters, managed to leave the police station. Thereafter, the mob proceeded to attack the residence of another candidate, who lives there using explosives, firearms, and stone pelting,” ECI said.
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BJP Noapara candidate and former MP Arjun Singh, who reached Jagatdal police station to rescue Jagatdal candidate Rajesh Kumar, said, “There was an attempt to kill Rajesh Kumar and Pawan Singh. I reached the incident at night.”
Trinamool Spokesperson Jayprakash Majumdar, “Arjun Singh controls a muscleman in the area. There is an unprecedented instance, the way the BJP-ECI combine is working.”
“The remaining accused persons have absconded. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend them, including continued raids targeting individuals such as Firoz, Munjal Rajak, and others. Further action is underway to secure all absconding accused and restore law and order in the area,” ECI said.
