SHILLONG, Feb 8: Sixteen persons have been arrested in connection with Tuesday’s violence involving TMC and NPP workers at Charbatapara village under Phulbari constituency in West Garo Hills District.
Police said more arrests are likely to be made in connection with the case. Four people were injured in the clash.
The Election department said all efforts are being taken to ensure free and fair polls. Election authorities have identified at least 131 people who were involved in the clash who will be bound over in order to prevent such incidents in future, Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said.
Of those 131 accused, 25 have already been bound over by the police, the CEO said.
He said the situation there is under control as three companies of central armed police forces have been deployed.
Security forces conducted a flag march in the area on Wednesday.
NPP calls for violence free polls
The NPP on Wednesday urged the West Garo Hills district administration to ensure that there is no spiralling effect of the Phulbari clash.
It also urged the administration not to allow West Bengal-type violent electioneering in Meghalaya.
“Not only Meghalaya, entire India should have violence-free elections. We want a violence-free election but this has been done with well pre-planned intentions,” said former Assembly speaker and NPP’s Phulbari candidate, Abu Taher Mondal.
He said the TMC is playing the victim card but it is the other way round. “One can see the video circulating on social media where our people were peacefully going somewhere. They came and attacked our people,” he alleged.
He said the incident had left some NPP workers injured, including two who sustained grievous injuries and were admitted to a hospital in Goalpara, Assam. The party filed an FIR with the police in connection with the incident.
NPP spokesperson Ampareen Lyngdoh insisted the administration take note of the incident. She said there may be allegations, claims and counter-claims but all efforts should be made for a peaceful election.
“We must ensure this does not have a spiralling effect anywhere else in the state,” she said.
Stating that such poll-related violence rarely occurs in Meghalaya, she said, “There has not been many incidents in the past where a party goes out of hand. This incident is a lesson for Meghalaya.”
She categorically stated that law and order must prevail and there must be a thorough probe into the incident so that action can be taken against those responsible.
She insisted that there should be fairness in the elections, so that people can cast their vote according to their choice. Also, the political parties should have mutual respect, she added.
“The West Bengal elections, held not very long ago, were violent. This should not happen in Meghalaya,” Lyngdoh said, adding, “Without assigning responsibility to any political party, the law and order machinery should come in. We should stop lawlessness during campaigning.”
The NPP alleged the TMC is trying to win the polls by perpetrating violence as part of a strategy.
“There were several instances of deaths, injuries and vandalism all across Bengal during the last Assembly election. BJP, the key opposition, CPI-M and Congress lodged complaints with various authorities to stop the violence. The matter also went to Governor. Meghalaya has never seen such violence but it appears that the state will witness the same violence this election,” the NPP said.
The party alleged TMC supporters had attacked the vehicle of NPP MDC in the Phulbari constituency Habibur Zaman on Tuesday night and it led to a clash in which nine persons were injured. TMC candidate SG Esmatur Mominin was at the site when the violence broke out.
“When Habibur Zaman and his supporters were passing through the village, some TMC supporters had hit their Scorpio vehicle leading to the scuffle. The situation is now under control,” the NPP added.
Mominin slams NPP for attacking party workers
TMC’s Phulbari candidate, SG Esmatur Mominin came down heavily on the NPP for allegedly attacking the former’s members led by the Shyamnagar MDC.
“I condemn the brutal attack orchestrated by the NPP workers. I learned that the Shyamnagar MDC provoked this incident and is the proprietor of the crime,” said Mominin.
Requesting the ECI to conduct a proper inquiry to unearth the truth, he said, “This is a very shocking and serious matter. I hope the authorities will take appropriate action and ensure fair and free elections.”
The leader asserted that NPP is irked by the overwhelming support and unwavering confidence shown by the people towards Meghalaya TMC.
He also denied reports of TMC workers attacking NPP.
“The allegations that are labelled against TMC workers are false, baseless, and fabricated. Thousands of people who had witnessed the brutal behaviour of NPP workers,” he said.
TMC demands justice
Meanwhile, the TMC termed the attack on its workers as shameful and condemned the NPP for attacking the fabric of democracy.
“In a shameful and unscathed display of its brawniness, the NPP workers resorted to attacking the Meghalaya TMC workers in Charbatapara village under Phulbari constituency. The attack took place at around 10.30 pm at the residence of one of the party workers named Nozrul Hoque when NPP workers vandalised the premises where a meeting was being conducted by the party,” TMC said on Wednesday.
“They (NPP) workers came in a group and started attacking and destroying my property, bamboo walls, tables, chairs with logs and stones. They also pelted stones and bricks,” said Nozrul Hoque, who was injured in the attack.
He further added that the MDC of Shyamnagar, Habibur Zaman stopped near his house when his workers pelted stones, injuring four TMC workers.
An FIR has been submitted by one Nozim Hussain against Habibur Zaman.