‘Don’t tell anyone where we are'(we are’)

Kolkata. Panchayat elections are to be held in West Bengal on July 8, for the last one (we are’)  week some candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party are reportedly not able to go back to their homes. He says that he is feeling the danger of his life due to the violence allegedly committed by the workers and supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress. That’s why now they have taken shelter in safe places. Subhankar Giri of Najat gram panchayat of Sandeshkhali block claims that he could not file his nomination for the upcoming elections when he went to the office of the local Block Development Officer (BDO). He then went to the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) but again failed. Finally, he filed his nomination following the court’s instructions, but now he cannot go back home.

BJP candidate Subhankar Giri said that we cannot tolerate their violence anymore. They did not allow us to file nominations. We went to court and finally succeeded but now they are threatening us continuously. Don’t tell them where we are or they will kill us. Subhankar is not alone here. BJP’s Pintu Sardar, Soma Maiti, Nirupama Biswas and Anamika Das are hiding in the same safe place in Kolkata. There are about 24 people in this house. Soma Maiti of Durga Mandap gram panchayat of Sandeshkhali said, “We were thrown out of the house in 2018 for supporting the BJP. This time also if the central forces do not come, then perhaps we will never be able to go back. We are candidates but cannot enter our area.”

Candidates are in danger of life, are they safe here
There was always an atmosphere of fear in this house. BJP member of the area Shantanu Mondal Sabhapati told News18, “Many of our candidates are here and our party has made safe havens in other districts as well. We have to protect our candidates.” Kolkata BJP leader Tamogna Ghosh told News18, ‘Our candidates are fighting from the front. At least they are safe here. Our concern is that since they are unable to go back to their villages, how will they campaign? It is a matter of their lives and we cannot risk it.” Not only Kolkata, BJP is making such arrangements in other districts as well.

The Supreme Court rejected Mamta Banerjee government’s petition
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the Mamta Banerjee government’s petition challenging the deployment of central forces in Bengal for the local body elections to be held on July 8. The TMC government and the State Election Commission challenged the Calcutta High Court order directing central forces for security during the panchayat elections. Sources say that the State Election Commission will demand a company of central force for each district.