Govt offices attacked during SIR hearings in West Bengal

Locals enraged over the ongoing Special Investigating Agency (SIR) in West Bengal have attacked two offices of Block Development Officers (BDO) in the State over the past two days. While locals led by a Trinamool Congress MLA attacked a BDO office at Farakka on Wednesday on Thursday a mob vandalised the BDO office at Chakulia in Uttar Dinajpur district.

“An agitated mob of around 300 people forcefully entered the office premises, rushed to the office premises at 9.30 a.m. and destroyed various infrastructures of office premises as well as various sections,” the police complaint by BDO Chakulia said.

The complaint added that property valued at approximately ₹20 lakh was destroyed during the attack by the mob. “Later, a mob rushed into the office premises forcefully and began to destroy all the infrastructure, office accessories, electronic gadgets, and various office documents from different sections, such as the relief section, social welfare section, SHG, NRLM section, and more. After destroying the physical items, they set fire to all the broken and torn materials inside and outside the office room, resulting in significant damage to the office,” the complaint stated.

A mob protesting against SIR hearings ransacked the Block Development Office (BDO) and attacked police personnel in Chakulia, in North Dinajpur
| Photo Credit:
ANI

A senior police officer said that the Officer-in-Charge of Chakulia police station was injured in the violence. He added that the police had to resort to force to disperse the mob.

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, described the violence as a “sporadic incident” and said the matter has been brought to the notice of the highest level of the West Bengal government. The WB CEO from its official social handle shared the links to the two FIRs lodged in connection with the violence at Chakulia BDO office.

“Chief Secretary GoWB and DGP WBP have assured fool-proof security arrangements at SIR hearing venues,” the post on social media platform ‘X’

Meanwhile, five persons were arrested in the violence at the BDO office at Farakka in Murshidabad district. The FIR by the administration did not name the Farakka MLA Monirul Islam, though the MLA was present during the vandalism of the BDO office. “I don’t accept SIR, I don’t accept,” the MLA was seen raising slogans.

Commenting on the vandalism, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said that such incidents should not occur, but added that the people are being harassed in the name of SIR. Mr. Banerjee threatened to protest if the list of logical discrepancies was not made public by the ECI.

“If the ECI does not publish a logical discrepancy list, there will be democratic protests in Kolkata and Delhi. Why has Bengal been singled out? Despite questioning multiple times, we haven’t received any answers. When the protests begin, Gyanesh Kumar will realize Bengal’s power,” Mr. Banerjee said on Wednesday.

“After the deletion of approximately 58 lakh names in the first phase of the SIR, the ECI has issued notices to about 1.36 crore people in the state due to ‘logical discrepancies.’ These individuals are being summoned to appear before the ECI.”

West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said that when the Chief Minister of the State is exhorting people to target ECI such incidents are bound to happen. The BJP leader said that the violence at the BDO offices reflect the state of lawlessness in the State.