Kolkata, 06 January (H.S.): The deadline for West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar to submit an action taken report to the Election Commission of India on the alleged attack and heckling of a poll observer expires at 5 pm on Tuesday.

The report pertains to an incident in the Magrahat area of South 24 Parganas district last month, where ECI-appointed Special Roll Observer C. Murugan was reviewing hearing sessions related to the electoral roll revision. Murugan, an Indian Administrative Service officer, was allegedly surrounded and heckled, and his vehicle attacked by activists of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

Following the incident, allegations were raised that the state police failed to make adequate security arrangements for the observer, despite his visit being scheduled in advance and the district police being informed.

Murugan later submitted a detailed report on the incident to the Election Commission’s headquarters in New Delhi. Acting on this, the ECI sought a detailed action taken report from the DGP on January 3, while cautioning the state police that any future lapses in security arrangements for voter list observers would be viewed seriously.

Since the Special Intensive Revision process began in West Bengal in November, several instances of heckling and obstruction of election officials have been reported. In most cases, activists of the ruling Trinamool Congress have been accused. The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, also faced protests outside his office in central Kolkata.

In view of these developments, the Union Home Ministry last month decided to enhance security for the Chief Electoral Officer. His security cover has been upgraded to the Y category, entitling him to protection by Central Armed Police Forces. Central force personnel have also been deployed at the CEO’s office in Kolkata.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh