Special Electoral Rolls Observer C Murugan’s vehicle attacked during SIR hearing in Bengal’s South 24 Parganas
Following the incident, Murugan reported the incident to West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal. The Hearing phase of SIR started on 27 December.
People, mostly women, performed gherao on Murugan’s vehicle as he was leaving the hearing center at Magrahat in South 24 Parganas district, which falls under Trinamool National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s Constituency. The police had a difficult time managing the crowd and gaining passage for Murugan’s convoy.
Sources said women and locals were seen banging on his vehicle. He had gone to Sirakol High School in Magrahat to supervise the proceedings.
While traveling from Magrahat I to Magrahat II, the Special Observer’s vehicle was attacked and the lock was broken. Murugan said, “I will complete my duty and leave only after doing my job. What kind of security will an IAS officer need? I am an IAS officer and the Election Commission has sent me to do my job.” he said.
To a question about the protest, C Murugan said, “The administration will deal with such issues. I will do my job.”
Women protesters said they did not want SIR but money for the 100-day work plan. C Murguan had also faced similar protests during the Census phase in Falta district of South 24 Paragans district. Magrahat Police Station had difficulty giving way to Special Rolls Observer.
Meanwhile, the hearing of the Bengal SIR case was halted several times in different parts of the state on Monday, today is on the third day.
In Chinsurah Mogra in Hooghly district, MLA Asim Sarkar halted the hearing process in three Assembly Constituencies for nearly two hours as BLA2s, representatives of political parties, were not allowed to enter the hearing centre, as per ECI instructions. Similar incidents took place in Bardhaman and East Midnapore.
