Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Manirul Islam, who represents the Farakka Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, in connection with the ransacking of a centre conducting hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters’ list in West Bengal.
The incident occurred on January 14, when a hearing centre was allegedly vandalised by ruling TMC activists. Media reports and video footage of the incident reportedly showed the involvement of Islam, who is alleged to have led the group responsible for the ransacking.
The ECI instructed the Murshidabad District Magistrate, who also serves as the District Electoral Officer, to register the FIR against Islam on Thursday itself and inform the Commission through the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal.
Following the incident, Election Commission officials had contacted West Bengal’s acting Director General of Police, Rajeev Kumar, urging strong action. An FIR was subsequently registered at Farakka Police Station; however, it was alleged that the main accused, including Islam, were not named in the initial complaint. The matter was again brought to the Commission’s notice, prompting the latest directive.
Earlier on Wednesday, the ECI had instructed Rajeev Kumar, West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma to strictly comply with a recent Supreme Court order and ensure a completely peaceful law and order situation in the state during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Commission also warned that strict action would be taken in case of any failure to comply with the apex court’s directions.
In addition, the ECI directed the state government to provide adequate manpower to the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, for deployment at panchayat bhawans, block offices, and other venues where hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters’ list are being conducted.