Kolkata, 03 April (H.S.): An FIR has been registered against six persons, including two Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), in connection with a disturbance outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, police said on Friday.

According to police, the case has been registered at Hare Street Police Station against councillor Shantiranjan Kundu of Ward No. 32 and councillor Sachin Singh of Ward No. 36. The other accused have been identified as Mohammad Wasim, Moidul, Chandrakanta Singh and Mohammad Rizwan Ali.

All of them have been booked under non-bailable sections on charges of unlawful assembly and obstructing government officials from discharging their duties.

As per the FIR, the accused had allegedly gathered unlawfully at the intersection of Hare Street and Strand Road, in front of the Election Commission office, on the intervening night of March 31 and April 1. Despite repeated requests by the police, they allegedly refused to disperse and continued to obstruct official work.

The gathering also led to partial blockage of the road, affecting traffic movement and causing inconvenience to the public. It has also been alleged that provocative slogans were raised against the state’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal during the protest.

Police have initiated an investigation based on the FIR and further legal action may follow.

Sources said the controversy began over Form 6, which is used for inclusion of new names in the electoral rolls. Tensions reportedly escalated from Tuesday afternoon over allegations related to the submission of these forms.

TMC supporters alleged that certain individuals had entered the CEO’s office carrying bags filled with Form 6 applications to allegedly include names of outsiders in the voters’ list. BJP workers also reached the spot during the protest, leading to slogan-shouting between the two groups.

Police had to put up barricades and deploy Central forces to bring the situation under control. Tension reportedly prevailed in the area till Wednesday following the incident.

Police had also extended prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 in the area. The investigation is currently underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh