EC Asks for Fresh Report on ‘Attack’ Incident

Taking a serious note of the incident in Nandigram where West Bengal Chief Minister received multiple injuries, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday asked the East Midnapore administration to send a fresh report mentioning minute-by-minute updates on Mamata Banerjee’s events on March 10, when the incident took place.

The development came a day after the EC expressed annoyance over State Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay’s ‘incomplete report’ over the incident. It seems that the EC is not in a mood to give up the matter and is trying to clear all the air after TMC alleged that the poll body is working on the behest of a particular political party.

While the EC has expressed dismay over chief secretary’s incomplete report, another inconclusive report from the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, East Midnapore came as a surprise before the poll body.

Amid allegations from the chief minister that it was an ‘attack’ on her, the EC has found that the chief secretary in its report didn’t clearly mention how her car’s door slammed shut on her feet.

Not the least, in today’s report too, the EC has found several discrepancies in Banerjee’s claim and the report submitted by the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, East Midnapore.

“The EC has now asked the district administration to send them a detailed report on Banerjee’s public events on March 10. The poll body wants a final report from the state government by tonight,” a TMC source.

TMC MP Sisir Kumar Adhikari, father of Suvendu Adhikari, questioned why the chief minister decided to visit Birulia Bazar in East Midnapore late in the evening where no proper lights were there.

“People are questioning me as to why she has decided to visit Birulia Bazar at an odd time. As far as I know, she visited the place for the first time and she was unknown to the local territory. Usually, public events and meetings of politicians were done during the day time. But why she entered the area after the sunsets, it’s a big question?” he said.

On March 10, Banerjee claimed that she was heckled and received severe left leg injuries in Nandigram while getting into her car after interacting with the local villagers in Birulia Bazar in East Midnapore.

She was interacting with the local villagers at Birulia Bazar when suddenly the situation became chaotic around 6.28 PM due to a section of men present at the spot and she fell down. It all happened all of a sudden. Her security guards rushed and helped her to get into the backseat. She told her security guards that she suffered severe leg injury and also complained of chest pain.

While getting into the backseat of her car, Mamata, who was gasping heavily, told the media persons, “Look at my leg. There is swelling. I am feeling feverish. Please leave me alone now. I am having chest pain, not feeling well. I want to go to Kolkata for treatment.”

On March 12, chief minister was discharged from hospital around 7pm. She was seen coming out of the hospital in a wheelchair.

A ‘traumatised’ Banerjee was under 48-hours observation and the doctors after examining her health parameters had decided to release her after she ‘repeatedly’ insisted for it.