This disturbing incident has left Bengal stunned. Following the loss of their jobs due to the Supreme Court’s 3 April verdict, which annulled the recruitment of several secondary, higher secondary and non-teaching staff due to alleged corruption, the protesters were hoping to peacefully demand justice. Instead, they were met with force. The violence left several men and women grievously injured and mentally devastated.

In Bankura, some teachers, overwhelmed by despair, attempted self-immolation by pouring kerosene over themselves in front of the police. This journalist was present at the time and bore witness to the chaos.

Moumita Bhattacharjee, an assistant teacher from Paharpur High School in Barjora Block, expressed her anguish: “Bengal witnessed police brutality against us on 9 April. How are we supposed to live with dignity now?”

Santanu Maity, a dismissed teacher injured in the incident, said: “We did not come here to create unrest. We only demanded that the government immediately publish the list of eligible and ineligible candidates. Our protest was peaceful. The police are not our enemies, but under the orders of the ruling TMC-led government, they beat us indiscriminately. We condemn this inhuman act.”

Many teachers and non-teaching staff, both men and women, claim they have become victims of widespread corruption in the state’s recruitment process. They believe the government is now using force to cover up the scandal. Several of them also allege that not only leaders from the ruling TMC but also some BJP leaders also are under CBI investigation in connection with the same.

The teachers’ statements have been widely shared on social media, evoking public sympathy and rage.”First, we were sacked by a Supreme Court order that deemed the recruitment process beyond redemption. Then, despite assurances from the Chief Minister, we received no concrete resolution. And now, we’ve been kicked, punched, and hit with batons on the streets for demanding justice,” said Purobi Sarkar, a non-teaching staff member of Krittibas High School in Bishnupur, Bankura.

Responding to the backlash, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma acknowledged the issue, calling the police action “undesirable” and urged protestors not to take the law into their own hands. However, the official police statement attempted to justify the action, stating that “light force was used to bring the situation under control.”

This justification has failed to pacify the teaching community.”How can the police beat up teachers with batons? Are we criminals? Goons? An attack on one teacher is an attack on the entire fraternity. The police must apologise immediately,” said Sudipta Gupta, assistant teacher from Purba Bardhaman and President of the All Bengal Teachers’ Association (ABTA).

On 10 April, teachers across the state staged marches and demonstrations, condemning police brutality and demanding that eligible teachers and non-teaching staff be reinstated, and that the government publish the list of ineligible candidates without delay.

“Go to work—who has forbidden you? Anyone can offer volunteer service,” said Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, while addressing over 10,000 dismissed and aggrieved teachers and non-teaching staff at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on the afternoon of 7 April.

Her remarks followed the 3 April Supreme Court verdict that upheld a previous Calcutta High Court order, directing the dismissal of approximately 25,752 secondary and higher secondary teachers and non-teaching staff appointed to government-aided schools in West Bengal through the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in the 2016 recruitment cycle. As per the CBI’s initial findings, over 5,000 individuals were allegedly appointed through corrupt practices.

Despite these serious allegations, the Chief Minister offered a vague assurance, stating: “I will look after everyone. First, let me identify and secure the jobs of the eligible candidates. Then I will revisit the cases of ineligible ones. Let us examine the evidence—who is truly ineligible? My top priority now is to protect the eligible candidates.”

This meeting was officially convened to address only the eligible candidates. Entry passes were issued for this purpose. However, chaos erupted outside the stadium even before the meeting began. It was alleged that these entry passes were being sold, allowing even some of the ineligible candidates to enter. Additionally, several individuals reportedly not affiliated with teaching—including TMC loyalists from unrelated professions—were spotted inside the venue.

After the meeting concluded, many teachers and staff expressed disappointment. There was no clear resolution or action plan announced. Instead, the Chief Minister advised them to provide “volunteer service,” a suggestion that left the attendees disillusioned.

“We expected a solution but were instead advised to work like civic volunteers. We have effectively been reduced to ‘civic teachers.’ This is humiliating,” said Chinmoy Mandal, a spokesperson of the Deserving Teachers’ Rights Forum.

Bapina Ballav, an assistant teacher at Brahmandiha High School in Taldangra Block, Bankura, shared: “Most of us are the sole earners in our families. Who will bear our household expenses?”

RupaliPatra, an assistant teacher at Jajigram S.A. High School in Birbhum, added: “We are not here to offer volunteer services—we are qualified teachers.”

Post-Meeting Betrayal

Two jobless teachers, Dhritish Mandal and Mehboob Mandal, were present on stage during the 7 April meeting, where they delivered speeches in front of the Chief Minister. Mamata Banerjee publicly responded to their words, offering hope to thousands. Yet, just two days later, both teachers became targets of police action. Dhritish Mandal was beaten and hospitalized, while Mehboob Mandal, a leader of Jogyo Shikshak Shikshika Adhikar Manch, was arrested.

“We never expected this form of governance,” they said in despair.

“At the Netaji Indoor Stadium, the Chief Minister promised to stand by us. But now, the police are being used to suppress our rightful demands,” added Rupa Banerjee, a teacher at Government Colony Girls’ High School, Kulti, Paschim Bardhaman district.

Many educators across the state echoed similar sentiments: “If the state government had taken timely action, we wouldn’t be in this position today. Why is the Chief Minister now defending the undeserving? Why are those who paid bribes and those who accepted them still free?”

On 10 April, the dismissed teachers and non-teaching staff returned to the streets in protest—this time bearing both emotional scars and physical injuries. One image, widely circulated on social media, showed a teacher, Amit RanjanBhunya, being kicked by a police officer. He joined the protest march in Kolkata, visibly shaken but resolute.

“Before kicking me, a police officer tried to slap me. Are we criminals? Rapists? Murderers? The ones who committed recruitment fraud are walking free, while we—the victims—are being beaten and humiliated,” Bhunya said.

Several terminated teachers and non-teaching staff have demanded that the government release the Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets of all candidates who were recruited through the 2016 WBSSC examination. “If the OMR sheets are published, the truth will be clear to all,” they asserted.

Sukumar Pain, General Secretary of the ABTA, stated: “The Supreme Court has repeatedly asked the WBSSC to submit the list of eligible and ineligible candidates along with their OMR sheets or mirror images. However, throughout the legal proceedings, the WBSSC failed to present the required documents. This led the Supreme Court to lose confidence in the state’s handling of the case, exposing serious flaws in the recruitment process.”

Lack of Clarity from the Government and School Authorities

Despite over a week having passed since the Supreme Court’s verdict, the state government has not issued any directives concerning the sacked teachers and non-teaching staff. District Inspectors of Schools and school headmasters/headmistresses are also in the dark.

“We are unable to go to school anymore. Parents and students look at us with suspicion, assuming that we all secured jobs through corruption. We feel humiliated. We cannot sign the attendance register, and the school authorities are not providing any clear explanation. The pain and uncertainty we are facing are indescribable,” said Manasi Bhoumik, an assistant teacher at Dhabani School, and Jiten Santra of Saspur High School, Bankura.

Financial Distress among Sacked Staff

Many terminated staff reported that they had taken loans to build or purchase homes and vehicles. With their salaries discontinued, they are now unable to pay their EMIs. They also face challenges in covering the cost of medical treatments for themselves or their family members.

Pijush Kanti Bera, the District Inspector of Schools in Bankura, confirmed, “We have not yet received any instructions regarding the sacked teachers.”

Uttam Khan, Headmaster of Holudkanali High School in Ranibandh, Bankura, stated, “Salaries are typically processed through the Integrated Online Salary Management System (IOSMS) by the 10th of every month. However, as of 11 April, no salary requisitions have been uploaded for the current month.” Many sacked teachers have confirmed receiving their salaries for March, but are unsure about payments for April.

Impact on Bengal’s Education System

After the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011, the first WBSSC recruitment examination was conducted in 2016. During the Left Front regime (1998–2010), recruitment was held annually through the WBSSC.

According to the Right to Education Act (2009), the ideal student-teacher ratio is 30:1. In 2008, under the Left Front, the ratio stood at 35:1. However, the current ratio has worsened to 70:1, said Sudipta Gupta, President of the West Bengal State Committee of ABTA.

He further revealed that more than 3,98,000 teaching and non-teaching positions remain vacant across the state—from primary to higher secondary levels.

Both Gupta and Sukumar Pain warned that the situation will deteriorate further following the court’s dismissal of nearly 26,000 teachers and staff. “In many schools, the number of teachers is already below the minimum requirement. Schools in Jangalmahal—especially in Ranibandh (Bankura), Ayodhya Hills (Purulia), and Belpahari (Jhargram)—have either shut down or are on the verge of closure due to staff shortages.”

Last month, the Bankura district administration ordered the closure of seven Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras (MSKs) due to lack of teachers. In 14 years, the TMC government failed to appoint a single teacher to MSKs, leading to a sharp decline in student enrollment.

Following the verdict, several schools across Ranibandh, Sarenga, Bishnupur, Saltora, Raipur (Bankura), Joypur, Bandowan, Jhalda (Purulia), and Nayagram, Lodhasuli, Lalgarh (Jhargram) are likely to shut down higher secondary courses.

“It’s not just a few schools—numerous institutions across the state are at risk of becoming teacher-less,” warned Pain and Gupta. “Where will the students go? Will their families be able to afford private education? Many will be forced to drop out and migrate in search of work.”

Bengal already ranks second nationally in school dropout rates and incidents of child marriage. Teachers and parents fear these numbers will only rise in the aftermath of the mass terminations.

All picture by Madhu Sudan Chatterjee

Courtesy: Newsclick

The post Torn Pages, Broken Bones – The Violent Suppression of Teachers’ Voices appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On March 2, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a rather vague statement, admitting to the fact that duplicate EPIC numbers have been issued but stating that this duplication is because of manual de-centralisation and does not necessarily mean any fraudulent or duplicate voter inclusion!  The ECI also said that, while it is true that some electors have the same EPIC number, other important details, such as demographic information, Assembly Constituency, and polling booth, differ for these electors.

Incidentally the Election Commission’s own Handbook states that duplicate EPIC numbers cannot be given and the responsibility for the same lies with the ECI.

The TMC’s documented allegations on duplicated EPIC card numbers granted to voters have lent substance to the possibility that spurious injections of votes could take place, voters who are not legitimate voters in a particular constituency can be allowed to vote there.

The controversy surrounding EPIC number duplication has escalated with allegations and strongest move over the allegation of voter manipulation against the Election Commission from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of colluding with the Election Commission to manipulate the voter list for the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The allegations were first made on February 27 and reiterated after March 2, with a delegation of TMC MPs visiting the ECI with documentation to substantiate the claim.

Unable to in anyway now disregard the mounting allegations by the TMC related to forthcoming West Bengal assembly elections in 2026, almost a fortnight later, the Election Commission has finally called on all national and state political parties to submit their suggestions by April 30 in order to address any unresolved electoral issues. These concerns are to be reviewed at various levels, including those of Electoral Registration Officers (ERO), District Election Officers (DEO), and Chief Electoral Officers (CEO), reported by the TOI.

The request was made as part of ongoing efforts by opposition parties and leaders, first INC and AAP, now TMC, demanding the integrity and accuracy of voter rolls and electoral processes.

Earlier the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Aam Admi Party (AAP) had raised concerns of mass increases and deletions from voter’s lists related to the Maharashtra assembly elections (2024) and the Delhi state elections (2025). While the INC made these complaints only after the polls, AAP had also made them prior to the state elections in February.

Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of manipulating voter lists ahead of Bengal elections

On February 27, 2025, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed a gathering of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, asserted that the BJP, in collusion with the Election Commission, had been adding fake voters to the rolls in these states. She stated that her party had caught the discrepancies that the opposition parties had failed to notice in Maharashtra and Delhi. The TMC leader claimed that the BJP was now targeting Bengal with similar tactics, vowing that the state would not be another conquest on the BJP’s electoral map. Mamta Banerjee’s allegations were substantiated with documentation that led to a “clarification” by the ECI on March 2.

Mamta said that, “BJP would be gravely mistaken if they think Bengal is just another stop on their conquest map, another Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, or Uttar Pradesh to subjugate. Bengal has never bowed. Bengal has never surrendered. And in 2026, Bengal will rise once again to remind Delhi that our soil is not up for grabs, our identity is not theirs to rewrite. Ahead of 2026 Assembly Elections, fake voters are being smuggled into electoral rolls. But no amount of electoral fraud, no puppet Election Commission, no misuse of central agencies will alter Bengal’s destiny. I call upon my brave soldiers of Trinamool Congress to stay vigilant. A special committee has been set up to monitor every move. If BJP thinks they can steal Bengal, they are in for the fight of their lives.”

এই শিকল পরা ছল মোদের, এ শিকল-পরা ছল।
এই শিকল পরেই শিকল তোদের করব রে বিকল॥

BJP would be gravely mistaken if they think Bengal is just another stop on their conquest map, another Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, or Uttar Pradesh to subjugate. Bengal has never bowed. Bengal has never… pic.twitter.com/kEAYAEn2KT

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 27, 2025

“This election is a call to arms to protect our culture, our identity, and our unity. It is a battle to uphold the constitutional values that define us, to send a resounding message to Delhi: divisive forces will find no ground in Bengal. Bengal has never bowed to external forces seeking to dictate its destiny. This soil of great martyrs and revolutionaries will deliver a fitting response to the BJP” she added

Banerjee also issued a direct challenge to the BJP, declaring that Bengal would decisively reject their influence, saying, “After Maharashtra and Delhi, now you are targeting Bengal. We will give you a befitting reply. Once again ‘khela hobe’. I am asking party workers to hit the ball harder this time.” She concluded that the TMC’s goal of winning over 215 seats and pushing the BJP’s numbers down.

Setting the stage for the 2026 Assembly elections, Mamata urged her party to secure more than 215 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly. Banerjee warned that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was attempting to manipulate the voter lists with the help of the Election Commission, mirroring alleged tactics used in Maharashtra and Delhi.

Allegations of duplicate EPIC numbers and fake voters in Bengal

Banerjee took the opportunity to display a list she claimed contained names of fake voters in electoral rolls. According to her, these voters, some from out of state, were fraudulently added to Bengal’s electoral roll. She cited examples of names from states like Haryana and Gujarat, which appeared alongside the names of Bengal residents, all with identical EPIC numbers. Banerjee’s allegations were focused on the claim that these fake voters were being added to the rolls online, further fueling concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, reported The Indian Express

She also made an aggressive accusation against the Election Commission, alleging that it had become complicit in the BJP’s efforts to manipulate the voter list. This led Banerjee to issue a stern warning that if corrective actions were not taken, her party would take to the streets to demand accountability from the Election Commission.

Questions over the functioning of Election Commission

During her address, Banerjee accused the Election Commission of being influenced by the BJP, specifically calling out the new Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. She pointed out that Kumar had previously held a position as a secretary in the cooperation department under Union Home Minister Amit Shah, suggesting a potential conflict of interest. Banerjee’s comments highlighted growing distrust in the impartiality of the Election Commission as ECI is under the watch of opposition parties since Lok Sabha Election 2024

In a bold declaration, Banerjee warned that if the Election Commission failed to act, her party would resort to extreme measures, including staging a prolonged protest. She reminded the gathering of her history of activism, referencing her 26-day hunger strike during the anti-land acquisition movement in 2006. Banerjee asserted that TMC was fully prepared to launch a movement against the Election Commission to restore fairness to the electoral process, should the need arise. She said:

“If I could go on a 26-day hunger strike during the anti-land acquisition movement in 2006, don’t forget we can also launch a movement against the Election Commission, forcing them to restore democracy. If required, we will protest indefinitely in front of the EC office to demand the removal of fake names from the voter roll” reported The Indian Express.

TMC’s allegations: duplicate EPIC numbers in Bengal

The TMC’s allegations of voter list manipulation has been based on their own review that the same EPIC numbers have been assigned to multiple electors in different regions, which they argue compromises the integrity of the electoral roll. Mamata Banerjee, speaking to party workers in Kolkata, stressed that the verification of the voter list should be a priority to prevent the insertion of fake voters. She claimed that the BJP, with the Election Commission’s tacit support, was attempting to manipulate the voter rolls in Bengal, just as they had allegedly done in Maharashtra and Delhi.

Banerjee’s accusations were compounded by the assertion that non-residents were being brought into Bengal to vote under false pretences using duplicate EPIC numbers. The TMC doubled down on these claims in subsequent statements, calling for an immediate and thorough examination of the voter lists in Bengal.

The Election Commission’s response: EPIC numbers and voter identity

In response to the allegations, the Election Commission on March 2, (Sunday) clarified that while some electors have identical EPIC numbers, this does not imply any fraudulent or duplicate voter registrations.

ECI said that, while it is true that some electors have the same EPIC number, other important details, such as demographic information, Assembly Constituency, and polling booth, differ for these electors. As such, individuals with identical EPIC numbers cannot vote outside of their designated polling station within their respective State or Union Territory (UT), where they are officially enrolled in the electoral roll.

Over the allegations surfaced on social media posts and media reporting over the duplicate EPIC numbers, ECI replied that, “The Election Commission has taken cognizance of certain social media posts and media reports flagging the issue of electors of two different states having identical EPIC numbers. In this regard, it is clarified that while EPIC numbers of some of the electors may be identical, the other details including demographic details, Assembly Constituency and polling booth are different for the electors with the same EPIC number. Irrespective of the EPIC number, any elector can cast a vote only at their designated polling station in their respective Constituency in their State/UT where they are enrolled in the electoral roll and nowhere else.”

ECI further added that, “the allotment of identical EPIC number/series to some electors from different States/UTs was due to a decentralized and manual mechanism being followed prior to shifting of the electoral roll database of all States/UTs to the ERONET platform. This resulted in certain State/UT CEO offices using the same EPIC alphanumeric series and leaving a scope for the possibility of duplicate EPIC numbers being allotted to electors in different Assembly Constituencies in different States/UTs.”

ECI’s Press Note dated March 2, 2025

The ECI also said that any cases of duplicate EPIC numbers would be rectified, with affected electors receiving a new unique EPIC number. Additionally, the ERONET 2.0 platform will be updated to facilitate and support this process.

ECI has now transformed into the BJP’s “roll-rigging department: TMC

In response to the ECI’s press statement on the issue, the TMC issued an official statement criticising the ECI’s handling of the matter. The party wrote on its X handle that the once-neutral ECI has now transformed into the BJP’s “roll-rigging department.” TMC further stated, “Election fraud of EPIC proportions! Smt. @MamataOfficial warned how  @BJP4India was hijacking democracy, and now @ECISVEEP ’s own admission proves her right. Duplicate EPIC numbers across states?”

Election fraud of EPIC proportions! Smt. @MamataOfficial warned how @BJP4India was hijacking democracy, and now @ECISVEEP’s own admission proves her right.

Duplicate EPIC numbers across states? A ‘manual error’ or a meticulously crafted scam to rig elections? They manipulated… pic.twitter.com/IjN2aE9y7G

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 2, 2025

TMC Rajya Sabha MP and former journalist Sagarika Ghose expressed her dissatisfaction with the Election Commission’s response, labelling it as “unsatisfactory response” and describing the issue of duplicate EPIC numbers as a scandal. She took to X (formerly Twitter) to write that, “duplicate EPIC cards are a shocking SCANDAL. Totally unsatisfactory response from @ECISVEEP. A full, fair and time bound investigation of electoral rolls must be done NOW. Free and fair elections are the core of democracy!”

Duplicate EPIC cards are a shocking SCANDAL. Totally unsatisfactory response from @ECISVEEP . A full, fair and time bound investigation of electoral rolls must be done NOW. Free and fair elections are the core of democracy! https://t.co/g2CexIlxuA

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) March 2, 2025

“A ‘manual error’ or a meticulously crafted scam to rig elections? They manipulated voter rolls in Maharashtra & Delhi and got away with it. They tried the same in Bengal but got caught. The ‘neutral’ ECI has turned into BJP’s poll-rigging department. Democracy is not a Modi-made product that can be tampered, tweaked, and sold off. WE WON’T LET YOU STEAL ELECTIONS!” Ghose questioned on her X post.

TMC’s 24 hours deadline to ECI, must accept error in 24 hours

On March 3, 2025, the Trinamool Congress voiced strong dissatisfaction with the Election Commission’s March 3 response to their concerns about duplicate EPIC numbers in the voter rolls. The party criticized the ECI for failing to properly address the issue and warned that if the Election Commission did not formally acknowledge the error within 24 hours, they would present additional evidence on March 4. During a press conference, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagrika Ghose, TMC leader Derek O’Brien, and Kirti Azad elaborated on the alleged scam surrounding the issuance of duplicate voter EPIC cards. They demanded immediate action from the Election Commission, insisting that the integrity of the electoral process must be safeguarded.

Rejecting the Election Commission’s clarification on the issue of duplicate voter identity cards, the Trinamool Congress said that while the ECI had acknowledged the error, it had not yet accepted responsibility for it. The party promised to present further evidence within the next 24 hours.

However, Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien clarified that this is not a threat but giving the respected ECI time to accept their error. He said that, “ECI is admitting the error but not accepting the error. In the next 24 hours, ECI must accept the error. If you do not do this, we will share another document tomorrow at 9 am. This is not a threat. It is giving the respected Election Commission of India time to accept their error,”

ECI’s Handbook says EPIC numbers cannot be duplicated

On March 4, TMC intensified its allegations of “ghost voters” in West Bengal, citing the Election Commission’s “Handbook for Electoral Registration Officers, 2012”, which states that EPIC numbers cannot be duplicated.

TMC said that the rebuttal issued by the party was based on the ECI’s own “Handbook for Electoral Registration Officers” published in the year 2012. As per the handbook, “same” photograph would come for all electors who have the same EPIC numbers”. [Para No. 14 of Chapter IX – Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC)]

A day earlier, TMC accused the Commission of a “scam” in issuing duplicate voter IDs and gave them a 24-hour deadline to “acknowledge the mistake.” The party claims that individuals from other states were registered under the same EPIC numbers as legitimate West Bengal voters, with Mamata Banerjee dubbing them “ghost voters.”

What are EPIC numbers?

EPIC numbers, first introduced in 1993 under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, serve as identity documents to prevent voter impersonation.

Notably, the EPIC numbers are a crucial part of the electoral process, as they help identify voters and ensure the integrity of elections. However, as per the EC’s Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, each EPIC is supposed to have a unique number, which includes a Functional Unique Serial Number (FUSN) for every Assembly constituency. With the advent of the ERONET platform in 2017, the process of issuing EPIC numbers has been streamlined. The manual states that a unique EPIC number is issued for the first-time voter, and any replacement EPIC retains the original number, further ensuring consistency in voter identity.

TMC’s 10-member delegation met Election Commission over ‘fake voter’ issue

On March 11, a 10-member TMC delegation, including prominent MPs such as Derek O’Brien and Kalyan Banerjee, met with the Election Commission in New Delhi. The delegation presented evidence of what they claimed to be fake voters found in various districts of West Bengal.

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) delegation, which included MPs Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sagarika Ghose, Kirti Azad, Sajda Ahmed, and others, addressed the issues of duplicate EPIC numbers and discrepancies in the voter list of West Bengal during the meeting with the Election Commission, reported The Hindu.

In their memorandum to the ECI, raised concerns with the ECI regarding the issue, flagging the serious allegations of duplicate EPICs. The party posted on its X handle that, “the EPIC number duplication SCAM is the BIGGEST ELECTORAL FRAUD of our times, and the  @ECISVEEP has a lot to answer for! A 10-member delegation of our MPs met the CEC demanding:

Why was this buried for years until Smt. @MamataOfficial exposed it?

How can ECI “fix” it in 3 months when no action was taken for years?

How many duplicate EPICs exist, and in which states?

Will voters with duplicate EPICs be disenfranchised?

How is Aadhaar cloning impacting voter registration and electoral rolls?”

The EPIC number duplication SCAM is the BIGGEST ELECTORAL FRAUD of our times, and the @ECISVEEP has a lot to answer for!

A 10-member delegation of our MPs met the CEC demanding:
Why was this buried for years until Smt. @MamataOfficial exposed it?
How can ECI “fix” it in 3… pic.twitter.com/4nDJDQvopZ

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 11, 2025

Earlier, on March 6, a TMC delegation had met with the Chief Electoral Officer to address the alleged discrepancies in the state’s voter list. The delegation, which included West Bengal State President Subrata Bakshi and legislators Firhad Hakim, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Aroop Biswas, and Ritabrata Banerjee, had engaged in discussions with the Chief Electoral Officer regarding the reported irregularities in the state’s electoral rolls.

All concerns would be resolved: ECI to TMC delegation over EPIC number

On March 11, the Election Commission met with the TMC delegation and assured that all concerns, including duplicate EPIC numbers, duplicate, shifted, and deceased voters, as well as illegal migrants, would be addressed by each Booth Level Officer and the concerned Electoral Registration Officer. The apex poll body further stated in a post on X that this process would involve the active participation of Booth Level Agents appointed by all political parties.

Link:

ECI welcomed the delegation of @AITCofficial today.

The Commission mentioned that all concerns including duplicate EPIC numbers, duplicate, shifted & dead voters &illegal migrants will be resolved by each Booth Level Officer & concerned Electoral Registration Officer..

1/2

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) March 11, 2025

However, after the delegation met with the Election Commission, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose stated, “The issue of duplicate EPIC cards is extremely serious… All opposition parties have recognized it ever since West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged the issue… Ever since we have provided solid evidence of duplicate EPIC cards, the Election Commission is still not telling us how many duplicate EPIC cards are there… We have given some suggestions on how electoral rolls can be cleaned up… If there are any changes in the electoral roll, the Election Commission should bring out a separate roll and mention where the deletions and changes have been made”

Link:

#WATCH | Delhi: After the TMC delegation’s visit to the Election Commission office, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose says, “The issue of duplicate EPIC cards is extremely serious…All opposition parties have recognized it ever since West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged the… pic.twitter.com/6yyxvlylCN

— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2025

“We have already provided solid evidence on duplicate EPIC cards. There is credible evidence that Aadhaar cards are being cloned and they are being used for fake voter registration… How will the Election Commission ensure that the cloning of the Aadhaar card will not affect the EPIC card? Transparency and rigorous investigation is necessary. Stonewalling will not work. The Election Commission has to walk the talk because electoral rolls are central to a free and fair poll” Ghosh added

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The post After strong allegations by the TMC that ECI has transformed into the BJP’s “roll-rigging department”: TMC, ECI invites all parties for ‘deliberations’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The data turnaround data released in such a way that clearly indicating a confirmation biased of media channels in between the contesting parties in Bengal and Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Most of the exit polls have predicted that the BJP will get more seats than the Bengal’s ruling party TMC in the state.

NDA inclined Exit Polls for Bengal by National Media:

The Exit Polls by major media house inclined towards NDA.  As per date released by India Today-Axis My India Exit Polls for the 20224 Lok Sabha elections BJP likely to win 26-31 seats in Bengal and TMC will remain in between 11-14 and 0-2 for Left(M). The India Today-Axis My India exit poll predicted the BJP to get 46 per cent vote share in West Bengal. ABP Ananda Exit Polls in association with CVoter conducted Exit Polls and expected 23-27 seats for BJP, 13-17 for TMC, 1-3 INC. Not surprisingly, Republic TV PMARQ made a conservative estimate of 22 seats for BJP out of 47 and rest for others. As per Exit Polls released by Jan Ki Baat, NDA will get 21-26 seats, TMC 16-18 seats and others 0-2 seats.

Bengal’s local Exit Polls for Lok Sabha 2024 expects INDIA Bloc will get setback:

The Senior Journalist and Editor Santanu Dutta Choudhary from West Bengal expected 22-24 seats for TMC, 16-18 seats for BJP, 1 to Congress and 0-1 CPI(M). Bengal’s “Nagorik” News media house in their Exit Polls anticipated 22-24 seats for TMC, 16-18 to BJP and 2 seats for Congress and CPM. The exit polls data released by West Bengal’s local news channel Calcutta News estimated 20-25 seats for TMS and 16 to 21 for BJP and rest for left and congress.

Tulmuk in Nandigram, where Debangshu Bhattacharya is an MP candidate from TMC. This place is also known as Adhikari gar (means the place for Debangshu Adhikari). However, Debangshu Bhattacharya busted over the media hype taking reference from the previous poll. Over the Exit Polls he said, “Purba Medinipur has 16 seats where 9 seats were won by TMC and if we see the talks about the undivided Medinipur, it has 35 seats and TMC secured 26 seats.

TMC MP Sougata Roy, who is seeking re-election from the Dum Dum Lok Sabha seat for a fourth consecutive term, also rejected the exit poll predictions. TMC said it believed in people’s mandate.

Hasty turnaround of Exit Polls misleading and biased:

The exit polls released by National Media House no doubt biased and inclined towards ruling party. Shockingly Times Now provided mismatched data in Exit Polls. Times Now expected BJP likely to win 21 seats and 20 seats to TMC out of 42 but no clear on other 1 seat.

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“This (violence) is not new. There is a branch of RSS in Sandeshkhali. Bringing outsiders is causing unrest. We are taking action; the police are going door to door to provide assistance,” Banerjee declared during her address.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, including Kunal Ghosh and Saokat Molla, responded to the allegations with scepticism. Ghosh called for victims to “provide proof” of the mass rape incidents that reportedly occurred, leading to the unrest. He went into the extent of asking women to raise hands to show whether they were raped or not in a televised talkshow.

Molla, meanwhile, dismissed the credibility of the women protesting against TMC’s Shahjahan Sheikh, alleging that they were all liars who “smoked cigarettes.”

TMC leader Narayan Goswami made suggestive comments, hinting that the women making harassment allegations did not conform to the purported and expected physical characteristics of local tribal women.

Goswami said, “The Adivasi women from Sandeshkhali can be identified by their physique and complexion. However, the women alleging harassment in front of the camera are fair. How can we know that they are local Adivasis?”

Another TMC spokesperson Jui Biswas demanded video evidence during a TV debate on the Sandeshkhali issue. “In Hathras, it was proven that rape has happened. Show me footage from West Bengal which shows that rape has happened,” asked Biswas, a councilor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and close relative of influential state cabinet minister Arup Biswas during the debate.

This is not the first time Trinamool Congress leaders have made controversial statements regarding sexual assault cases. They rather follow a pattern often set by the chief minister herself.

Past instances

In 2022, the Trinamool supremo had raised doubts about the gangrape-murder of a 14-year-old girl in Nadia district. The victim, invited to a birthday party by the son of a Trinamool Congress leader in Hanshkhali was allegedly gang-raped by the youth and his friends.

She later died due to excessive bleeding, and family members were reportedly prevented from seeking medical help. Following her death local Trinamool workers attacked the family, pointing a gun and forcefully cremated her.

The family later used the child helpline to raise the complaint. Banerjee, in the presence of the then West Bengal police chief Manoj Malaviya, suggested the girl had an affair with the accused, leading to sharp criticism from opposition parties. The Calcutta High Court subsequently transferred the case to the CBI.

In 2013, a 20-year-old college student was abducted, gang-raped, and murdered in Kamduni village, located 16 km from Barasat in the North 24 Parganas district.

Ten days after the incident, chief minister Banerjee visited the victim’s family in Kamduni and encountered a group of protesting women whom she accused of being “CPM supporters engaged in nasty politics”. Last year, the high court reduced the death sentences of two convicts in this case to life terms and acquitted a third death-row convict.

The court cited the state’s failure to prove conspiracy and the lack of evidence to challenge the possibility of reformation and rehabilitation. The West Bengal government and the girl’s family have not moved the Supreme Court challenging the order.

In February 2012, Banerjee dismissed the Park Street rape case as a “sajano golpo (fabricated story)”, alleging that it was orchestrated by the media to tarnish the image of the police and state government.

Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar even suggested that the victim, Suzette Jordan, was a “sex worker” and that the rape resulted from a dispute with a client. The police investigation, led by IPS Damayanti Sen, revealed that the woman had been raped by a gang of four individuals.

The officer was soon shifted from her post as joint commissioner of Kolkata Police (Crime) to the insignificant post of DIG (Training) at Barrackpore Police Training College and then again to DIG, (Darjeeling Range), within four months.

In 2022, the Calcutta high court ordered Sen to supervise four rape incidents in Matia, Ingrejbazar, Deganga and Banshdroni.

Three weeks later, Banerjee labelled another alleged rape case on a train as a “conspiracy by the CPI(M)” to tarnish her government’s reputation. She identified the victim as the wife of a CPI(M) worker, despite her husband’s death in 2002.

All five accused were eventually found guilty of armed robbery but not guilty in the gang rape case. However, the court criticised the public prosecutor for lack of evidence, particularly relevant medical reports supporting the rape case.

In 2014, the teenage daughter of a farmer, known to be a CPI(M) supporter, was found murdered in Dhupguri after she opposed the ruling of a ‘kangaroo court’ allegedly called by local Trinamool Congress leaders. Her disrobed body showed signs of sexual assault. The incident sparked public outrage in the district, leading to the arrest of eight Trinamool Congress supporters, who were soon released on bail.

There were allegations that the police shielded the accused, and a key witness was later found dead under suspicious circumstances. A key officer handling the probe, James Kujur, then additional SP of Jalpaiguri district, was later elected as the MLA of Kumargram in the neighbouring Alipurduar district and made a state cabinet minister in charge of the tribal development department in 2016.

Last year, a tribal unemployed woman living in a tea-basti near Bagdogra in North Bengal was subject to brutal sexual torture. Despite her FIR and medical repot confirming her ordeal, the primary accused, enjoying political influence, was not apprehended by the police. While the other four accused are in custody, the victim is repeatedly being intimidated with threats and harassments.

Translated from the Bengali original by Aparna Bhattacharya.

This article was first published on The Wire

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The Trinamool Congress (TMC) of Assam has also joined the fray, urging judicial action against Sarma for his alleged remarks. In a letter addressed to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, the TMC MP Ripun Bora spoke on this issue at a press conference held by TMC.

Addressing a press conference at the state headquarters today, demanded action against Assam CM @himantabiswa for continuously spreading hatred across the state. pic.twitter.com/gCnHjYTfDz

— Ripun Bora (@ripunbora) July 17, 2023

Tensions continue to simmer in Assam as TMC President Ripun Bora urges Chief Justice Chandrachud to take action against Sarma for his alleged hate speech targeting the ‘Miya’ community. Bora spoke of the need for the Assam government to proactively address the incident, even suggesting the possibility of suo motu contempt proceedings.

The Asom Sankhayalaghu Sangram Parishad had also launched an FIR on 17th July, 2023 at the Nagaon Sadar Police Station.

The controversy surrounding Sarma blew up after he commented on the high vegetable prices in Gauhati. He drew comparisons between the pricing strategies of ‘Miya’ vendors and Assamese vendors, suggesting that the Muslims were exploiting people.

Independent Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan, who filed a complaint against Sarma at the Dispur police station. The complaint reads as follows: “Himanta Biswa Sarma, CM of Assam asked people from Upper Assam area to come to Guwahati and in that event he would clear Guwahati from ‘Miyas’. Apart from making said statement which is available on social media. Such statements on the face of it are interned to create a division among different communities in the state and clearly prejudicial to national integration.” In the complaint, Bhuyan also stressed the need for an investigation into the matter, citing a recent Supreme Court directive on hate speech cases.

The CPI (M) has also lodged a complaint at the Latasil police station against Sarma, accusing him of making hate speeches that could fuel divisions and tensions among religious communities. AIUDF chief and Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal was also included in their complaint. The party has called for action to be taken against both politicians under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code that address promoting enmity, malicious acts, and assertions prejudicial to national integration.

While the police have received the complaints, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Chief Minister Sarma as of now.

Related:

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“246 churches burnt in 2 day, somebody strong is playing games in Manipur”: Father Jacob G Palackappilly

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Clashes broke out between party workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, after the former alleged that Suvendu Adhikar’s security detail allegedly assaulted locals. Earlier that day, Adhikari, who is fighting the upcoming assembly election from Nandigram, was meeting booth-level workers in the region.

The Times of India reports that broom-wielding women, allegedly backed by the TMC, first tried to accost Adhikari’s convoy. Then, at around 8:30 PM, TMC Youth Congress Secretary Samrat Tapadar and party booth president Gautam Pal were allegedly attacked by BJP workers. This alleged series of attacks and counter attacks culminated into protests outside the Nandigram police station the following day.

The TMC blamed the BJP for the violence and moved the Election Commission demanding action against the alleged perpetrators of the violence. Meanwhile, Dharmendra Pradhan, who is the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Minister of Steel, and was accompanying Adhikari during a padyatra (walking campaign) alleged that TMC workers assaulted their party men shortly after the padyatra began. Pradhan told media-persons, “Attempts are being made on the lives of our party people in a bid to intimidate us. I have faith in the Election Commission. I request that paramilitary forces be deployed in the region to maintain law and order.”

He also posted these images of injured party workers on Twitter:

आज सोनाचुरा नंदीग्राम में भाजपा की रैली पर टीएमसी के गुंडों द्वारा पत्थरबाज़ी करने की शर्मनाक कृत्य की जितनी भी निंदा की जाए वह कम है।

इस हमले में स्थानीय युवा मोर्चा के हमारे एक साथी पूर्णा चंद्र पात्रो के सर पर गम्भीर चोटें आयीं व अन्य कई और साथी घायल भी हैं। pic.twitter.com/d7BcoHJsaW

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) March 18, 2021

But at the heart of this, lies a bigger story, one that is connected deeply with the history of Nandigram and the Singur movement. At the height of the 2007 anti-land acquisition protests, several arrest warrants had been issued against TMC party workers and protesters. 13 TMC supporters had been accused of murders that took place on March 21, 2007.

While one judicial magistrate’s court in Tamluk was looking into cases against nine accused, another was looking into cases against 4 more accused. Earlier this year, the West Bengal government moved the lower courts to withdraw the cases against all 13. Two judicial magistrates of a Tamluk court allowed the state government to withdraw the criminal cases. These orders were challenged before the Calcutta High Court.

On March 5, 2021, the Calcutta High Court stayed 10 orders passed by the jurisdictional magistrate, granting consent for withdrawal of prosecution against accused persons in criminal cases at Nandigram in East Midnapore district.

The court said, “… having considered the stereotype orders which are impugned in these writ petitions and looking into the contents of those orders, we are, prima facie, satisfied that exercise of judicial power in terms of Section 321 Cr. P.C. to grant consent to a prosecutor to withdraw has, prima facie, not been appropriately exercised. We make this cautious observation because the formation of opinion of a prosecutor to withdraw a particular case from prosecution is, itself, an activity which is regulated by the statute and the judicial precedents governing the field.”

It added, “Only when the judicial authority is satisfied that the public prosecutor has acted in terms of the sound and well-settled principles touching the withdrawal of prosecution, would the judicial authority consider whether consent ought to be granted to enable such withdrawal. We, therefore, are of the view that the 3 impugned orders deserve to have a deeper look at our hands and we are satisfied that the consequence of the orders impugned in these writ petitions should stand stayed until a final decision is taken in these writ petitions.”

The court ruled, “Resultantly, the orders impugned in these two writ petitions stand stayed and the concerned criminal courts which have issued those orders will take note of these orders and deal with the criminal cases accordingly.”

This is what set the cat among the pigeons, and TMC has been vehemently protesting this move dubbing it ‘politically motivated’. Nandigram is also the constituency from where TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting elections.

The Calcutta High Court order may be read here: 

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Battleground Bengal: Mamata Banerjee injured in Nandigram

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On March 14, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its list of candidates who will contest elections in the third and fourth phases in the state. But the exclusion of several senior members and old hands of the party, and allocation of their seats to former Trinamool Congress (TMC) members who have recently joined the BJP, led to protests across the state.

The Telegraph reports that tension was palpable in Raidighi and Diamond Harbour, where the BJP has given tickets to TMC turncoats Shantanu Bapuli and Dipak Halder. Party workers were also enraged when Bishal Lama, a former member of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) was given a ticket to contest from Kalchini. Lama was a close associate of Bimal Gurung. Then there was widespread disappointment over Ashok Lahiri, a noted economist being given a ticket from Alipurduar.

But tensions boiled over in Hooghly, when members vandalised the party’s district office in Chinsurah to protest the candidacy of TMC turncoat Rabindranath Bhattacharya from Singur, and another former TMC man Prabir Ghoshal from Uttarpara. BJP’s own state leader Deepanjan Guha is perceived to be an outsider in Chandernagore from where he has been fielded.  

Meanwhile, the BJP appears to be relying heavily on ‘celebrity’ party members. Swapan Dasgupta, a noted journalist and a presidential nominee to the Rajya Sabha resigned, amidst controversy about his nomination as the BJP candidate from Tarakeshwar. TMC MP Mahua Moitra tweeted about it saying, “Swapan Dasgupta is BJP candidate for WB polls. 10th Schedule of Constitution says nominated RS member to be disqualified if he joins any political party AFTER expiry of 6 months from oath. He was sworn in April 2016, remains unallied. Must be disqualified NOW for joining BJP.”
 

Swapan Dasgupta is BJP candidate for WB polls.
10th Schedule of Constitution says nominated RS member to be disqualified if he joins any political party AFTER expiry of 6 months from oath.
He was sworn in April 2016, remains unallied.
Must be disqualified NOW for joining BJP. pic.twitter.com/d3CDc9dNCe

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) March 15, 2021

Meanwhile, a steady stream of A-list BJP leaders has been making multiple trips to the poll-bound state, including the big two: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Just last weekend Nitin Ghadkari and Smriti Irani also addressed rallies in the state.

But there are reports that the turnout at BJP’s rallies remains low, with allegations of manipulated camera angles. So much so, that it is being alleged that Amit Shah had to cancel his rally in Jaghram due to poor turnout of people, rather than a chopper snag as claimed by the BJP. SabrangIndia had previously reported on the lukewarm response to PM Modi’s rally at Brigade Ground.

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Battleground Bengal: Lukewarm response to Modi rally at Brigade Ground 

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Last Thursday, the body of Khaleq Mia, a party worker of the Trinamool Congress, was discovered in a field in Cooch Behar reported The Telegraph. According to his family, the 70-year-old party worker from Rampur-Jaldhowa village of Toofanganj subdivision had gone missing the previous evening. Party workers accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of murder, a charge they vehemently denied.

Then just the next day, TMC member Manoranjan Dey, who is part of the Alipurduar Zilla Parishad and is also the president of the Alipurduar Block-1 committee, was allegedly shot at on his way to Siliguri. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, again in Cooch Behar. Some people in another car shot three rounds at Dey when he stepped out of his car, one bullet injured Dey in his leg.

Senior TMC leader and state Tourism Minister Gautam Deb blamed the BJP for the attack. The BJP once again denied the allegation and in turn said that Avijit Barman, general secretary of Cooch Behar district committee, was fired at, on Thursday. Violent clashes also erupted in Mathabhanga between workers of both parties on Friday.

Meanwhile, the defection drama is getting more intense with each passing day in Bengal. On Saturday TMC workers allegedly stopped the vehicle of Sunil Mondal outside the BJP state headquarters in Kolkata on December 26 and staged a protest. Mondal, who resigned from the TMC before joining the BJP on December 19, hasn’t yet resigned from his position as the Member of Parliament (MP) from East Bardhaman. Mondal along with Suvendu Adhikari was among those who were inducted into the BJP on December 19 amidst much fanfare by none other than Union Home Minister and BJP heavyweight Amit Shah.

In fact, Suvendu Adhikari’s roadshow at Contai’s Meccheda bypass on December 24, attracted a huge crowd, thus showcasing his influence. “Bengal may be my home but India is my land… The common man is with us. They have given the TMC a befitting reply,” said Adhikari while addressing the rally that ended with the now familiar chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” reported The Telegraph.

All eyes are now on other members of his highly influential political family to see if they too will follow in Suvendu’s footsteps. Suvendu’s father Sisir Adhikari is the TMC Member of Parliament from Kanthi. Suvendu’s brother Dibyendu is TMC’s MP from Tamluk and another brother Soumyendu held an important civic post in Contai until recently.

Meanwhile, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek appeared to take a rather juvenile dig at Suvendu Adhikari. While addressing a rally at Diamond Harbour, Abhishek compared Adhikari to a “asymptomatic Covid-19 patient” accusing him of destabilising and sabotaging the TMC from within.

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The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party suffered a huge setback in West Bengal when its Bengal unit leader Anwar Pasha led an exodus from the Asauddin Owaisi led party to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Pasha joined TMC along with a few other AIMIM members in the presence of TMC MLAs Maloy Ghatak and Bratya Basu. Speaking to media persons in Kolkata, Pasha said, “AIMIM has played a hand in the polarisation of votes in Bihar and thus helped the BJP in forming the government there, but this will not happen in Bengal.”

AIMIM had won five key constituencies in Bihar in the Seemanchal region; Amour, Bahadurganj, Baisi, Jokihat and Kochdhaman, where the Muslim population is as high as 75 percent in some areas. In many other Muslim majority constituencies, the AIMIM was accused of splitting the Muslim vote, ultimatey causing victory for the BJP.

Pasha said that nearly 30 percent of the people of West Bengal were followers of Islam and various minorities have lived in the state amidst communal harmony, which is why political developments in Bihar cannot be allowed to be replicated in Bengal. He urged Muslims in the state to stand behind the TMC and Mamata Banerjee.

This is significant given how on Sunday Owaisi had revealed that his party was considering running for elections in the state and was considering various strategies and alliance options. If what happened in Bihar is any indication, AIMIM could have an impact in many constituencies with a significant Muslim population.

The party could be a game changer in the two Maldahas. Maldaha Uttar covers the assembly segments of Maldaha, Habibpur, Gazole, Chanchal, Harishchandrapur, Malatipur and Rauta. Of these the last four have majority Muslim populations. Dakshin Maladaha is where the Kalichak riots took place in January 2016, when a protest march, against derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed allegedly made by Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwari, had turned violent. The rampaging mob ransacked a police station, a block development office and destroyed public property including government and police vehicles. Since then, this region has remained under the scanner for communal sensitivity.

Other Muslim majority areas where the AIMIM could swing the election in favour of the BJP are Murshidabad, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat and Bashirhat.

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Guwahati: After the Janata Dal (United), the Trinamul Congress (TMC) on Wednesday assured a delegation of Northeast students opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that it will firmly oppose the contentious legislation which proposes to grant citizenship to persecuted non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Representatives of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and North East Students’ Organization (NESO) met senior Trinamul leader and Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy in New Delhi. Neso chairman Samuel Jyrwa, Aasu chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya, president Dipanka Kumar Nath and general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi were part of the delegation that met Mr Roy. Mr Roy assured the delegation during the meeting that the Mamata Banerjee-led party will also oppose the Bill in Parliament.

“Trinamool Congress had earlier opposed the citizenship bill and this time too our party will firmly oppose the proposed legislation, both inside and outside Parliament,” Mr Roy told the Aasu-Neso delegation, which has been camping in New Delhi since last week to garner support against the bill. AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath said, “With support from the national and regional parties, we are hopeful that the Citizenship Bill will be blocked this time as well. It’s the duty of national and regional political parties to save the indigenous tribes and communities of Assam and the northeast from illegal influx of Bangladeshi migrants, which has threatened our culture, identity and existence.”

Meanwhile, Centre also reviewed the security situation in the Northeastern states that have witnessed protests in the past few weeks over the move to amend the CAB.Heads of state intelligence agencies of all Northeastern states, Assam Rifles and paramilitary forces attended the review meeting, which was chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

The meeting, convened by the National Security Council Secretariat, which is headed by Mr Doval, analysed the intelligence inputs coming from the ground with regard to Opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.Security sources said that top officials gave detailed presentations on the findings of their respective organisations about the protests and people’s approach towards the proposed legislation.

The CAB was an election promise of the BJP during the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. A large section of people and organisations in the Northeast are opposing the Bill, saying it will nullify the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985.

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