Kolkata, 22 January (H.S.): The Election Commission of India has directed the registration of a First Information Report against Trinamool Congress legislator from the Farakka Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, Manirul Islam, in connection with the ransacking of a hearing centre during the Special Intensive Revision process in West Bengal.

The incident took place on January 14 in the Farakka Assembly area, where alleged activists of the ruling Trinamool Congress vandalised a centre set up for hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters’ list. According to media reports and videos that surfaced after the incident, the ransacking was allegedly led by MLA Manirul Islam.

On Thursday, the Election Commission instructed the District Magistrate-cum-District Electoral Officer of Murshidabad to register an FIR against Manirul Islam on the same day and to inform the Commission through the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal.

Following the incident on the afternoon of January 14, officials of the Commission had contacted the Acting Director General of Police of West Bengal, Rajeev Kumar, and directed him to take strict action in the matter. Subsequently, an FIR was registered at Farakka Police Station. However, it was alleged that the main perpetrators, including Manirul Islam, were not named in that complaint.

After the issue was once again brought to the notice of the Commission, it has now issued explicit directions for the registration of an FIR against the legislator.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Election Commission had directed the Acting Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma to ensure strict compliance with the recent Supreme Court order and to maintain a completely peaceful law and order situation in the state during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process. The Commission also cautioned that strong action would be taken in case of any non-compliance.

In addition, the Commission instructed the state government to provide adequate manpower to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, for deployment at panchayat buildings, block offices and other venues where hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters’ list are being held, in order to ensure proper security and smooth conduct of the process.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh