The demonstration outside the office of west Burdwan district magistrate in Asansol was met with violence on Sunday after protesters from the Congress Party alleged they were attacked by police at the venue when they demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
In the scuffle, several police officers were injured and Asansol North police registered a case against six protesters and about 200 unidentified protesters.
Protesters Allegedly Breach Barricades
Around 150-200 people had gathered around Gate No. 1 at the district magistrate’s office and were blocking the road with slogans, according to police’s complaint.
Receiving the police’s many demands to keep the protestation peaceful, the youth turned violent and are alleged to have tried to storm the administrative complex by penetrating security measures and climbing the main gate.
The police blocked the protesters and it is in the quarrel with them that the scenes were shot.Quarrel with police while they tried to go in. There were reportedly several injuries sustained amid the incident, which resulted in injuries being treated at Asansol District Hospital.
Sub Inspectors Mehboob Alam, Atunu Bajpai and Shishir Kumar Ghosh of the police force were among the victims who sustained injuries.
FIR Registered Against Six Named Persons
The police had lodged an FIR under the sections of the IPC dealing with unlawful assembling, rioting, assault on public servants and police officials, as well as obstruction of public servants in their duty.
At least six people have been named in the case and some 200 people have been booked as unidentified protesters. Police are looking at the images and video of the protest to see if there’s anyone else who may have played a role. At the time of the report, there were no arrests reported.
Congress Demands CEC’s Resignation
The demonstration coincided on Congress’ protests against the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party has been voicing doubts over the electoral-roll revision process and has asked for his resignation.
The Congress has raised issues on whether there is any irregularity which has taken place in voter-lists changes, and the Election Commission has pointed out that elected officials have been doing what they can to update and purify electoral rolls. Protest against the broader dispute by opposition parties in various regions of the country.
The violence in Asansol comes amid a series of clashes that have been reported during protests against the Election Commission and the voter-roll revision process.