Election Commission officials were attacked by Trinamool Congress workers while they were filming a TMC bike rally in Malda district on Thursday.
A State EC officer deployed in Malda, Ajit Das, said, “A motor cycle rally of around 300 bikers of the TMC led by Maldaha Dakshin party nominee Moazzem Hossain was passing by at Manikchak. Some of our men were beaten up, including our cameraman, and the camera was smashed. Rallies with more than 10 bikes have been banned by the poll commission and we objected to it. We were threatened and abused, and feeling insecure to carry out the duties of the EC,” he said.
The violent TMC workers were seen yelling “set fire, set fire” as they were roughed up by the officials.
The incident happened in the backdrop of West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief’s continued rhetoric against the EC.
Regarding the transfer of eight state government officials, including five district police chiefs, Mamata had said, “The poll commission was acting at the behest of the Congress and as agents of the party as well as the BJP and CPM in West Bengal.” Toeing Mamata’s line, Chief Secretary Sanjoy Mitra on Thursday issued an order stating that all the officials removed by the EC would be reinstated.