Section 144 imposed in West Bengal's Bhatpara due to post poll violence

The Election Commission on Monday imposed Section 144 (prohibits assembly of more than four people in an area) in West Bengal's Bhatpara area due to post-poll violence.

The restriction has been imposed for an undefined period. 

According to Special Police Observer for West Bengal Vivek Dubey, 200 Companies of Central Forces will be retained to handle post-poll violence. 

Election Commission: Sec-144 (prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) has been imposed in Bhatpara for undefined time-period to combat post-poll violence. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/C61uQP9Krz

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2019

"A strength of 200 Companies of Central forces will be retained in West Bengal to assist in counting&to handle post-poll violence. This force will be deployed all over state. Remaining 510 Companies will move out of the state," Dubey was quoted as saying by ANI.

Meanwhile, several persons were injured in post-poll clashes between political parties in two districts of West Bengal. Many polling agents of opposition parties were beaten up, and houses and vehicles of many activists were attacked after voting on Sunday in nine constituencies in the last and seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls and by-elections to four Assembly seats. 

Residents of the Bhatpara Assembly seat in North 24 Parganas staged several protests against violent political clashes during by-election on Sunday. The by-election was caused by Trinamool MLA Arjun Singh's defection to the BJP two months ago.

Train services in Eastern Railway's Sealdah-Krishnanagar division were disrupted for two and a half hours after hundreds of residents squatted on the tracks at Kankinara station, protesting against clashes.

The BJP supporters too protested at the Jaggadal police station, accusing security personnel of not being active in providing security to locals.

The BJP fielded Arjun Singh's son Pawan Kumar Singh and the Trinamool, Madan Mitra, an accused in the Saradha and Narada scam, for Bhatpara by-election.

Mitra on Monday lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Office, accusing Singh and his team of inciting violence in the area after the vote.

With Agency Inputs