KOLKATA: West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party President Dilip Ghosh said that the central forces had "every right" to open fire in adverse situations, adding that the miscreants attacking the security personnel should be "shot on the chest". Violence marred the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections in the eight parliamentary constituencies in the state on Sunday in which at least 26 people were injured and 16 vehicles were damaged.
The central forces opened fire in five places, injuring three persons, including one in Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency's Keshpur area, where BJP candidate Bharati Ghosh's convoy came under attack, causing head injury to one of her security personnel. "There have been constant attacks on Bharati Ghosh and her body guards. Stones were pelted on her car. Even one of her security personnel was injured. So if their (central forces) lives or people's lives are under threat, they should fire. I think the miscreants should have been shot on the chest, not on feet," Ghosh said. "The central force personnel carry guns for security reasons and they are entitled to use them in adverse situations. Those are real guns, not toys," Ghosh added.
Bankura district magistrate removed
The Election Commission ordered the removal of Bankura district magistrate Uma Shankar, following clashes between Trinamool Congress and BJP workers in Bankura constituency. IAS official Mukta Arya has been appointed in place of Uma Shankar. Complaints were filed against Uma Shankar in connection with the election-related clashes earlier in the day.
According to reports, a BJP worker was injured in the violence that erupted outside a polling booth. "The Trinamool has done this, who else? Violence, bloodshed and destroying democracy - this is the Trinamool Congress' job. Looking at how badly he is hurt, the chances of our worker's survival is low," Subhash Sarkar, the BJP candidate from Bankura, said. Subhash Sarkar is contesting against the Trinamool Congress' Subrata Mukherjee in Bankura.
Union Minister Babul Supriyo's convoy was also attacked allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers in Basirhat earlier. The incident occurred while he was returning from a rally held in support of North 24 Parganas BJP candidate Sayantan Basu.
