Heckled BJP candidate Bharati Ghosh keeps forces busy in Bengal

BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Ghatal and former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh was in the eye of a political storm which rocked the sixth phase of polling in West Bengal on Sunday.

Ghosh, who is contesting against sitting Trinamool MP and popular Bengali actor Deepak (Dev) Adhikari, faced stern resistance from Trinamool Congress activists wherever she went in her constituency in West Midnapore district. 

She even had to take refuge inside a temple beside the Keshpur police station after being heckled and chased by Trinamool supporters, who accused her of instigating disturbance in the area. She was rescued by the security forces and given shelter in the police station after nearly two hours.

Earlier, Ghosh was stopped from entering a polling station in Ghatal where she was allegedly manhandled after bricks were pelted on her convoy near Keshpur, injuring one of her security staff. Her car, along with some other vehicles belonging to the media, was also vandalised.

The mob led by Trinamool Congress supporters got infuriated after one of her security guards allegedly opened fire, injuring a Trinamool worker in the arm. 

While the central force personnel claimed that they had to fire in the air in a bid to disperse the mob and to save their own lives, the locals in Keshpur alleged that Ghosh herself directed her security staff to open fire.

"The voting was going on peacefully. But Ghosh came in a convoy of nearly 15 cars and tried to intimidate the voters. When the locals tried to stop her, she asked her security personnel to fire at them. One Trinamool supporter received bullet injury in his arm," a local said.

"If my security guard has opened fire, the police should lodge an FIR against him, check his gun and match the bullet that has been fired. But why are they stopping me? As a candidate, I am entitled to travel across the constituency and visit the polling stations. It is a conspiracy by the state administration as I am trying stop the Trinamool from rigging," said Ghosh, a former United Nations peacekeeper.

Meanwhile, Ghosh's rival Adhikari visited to the house of the Trinamool worker injured in the firing and accused Ghosh of trying to trigger unrest in the area.

"She (Ghosh) has been trying to cause unrest in the area by intimidating the locals for the last few days. But not a single Trinamool activist said anything to her. Today she did the same, but the villagers in Keshpur resisted. I do not want this. Polling should happen in a peaceful manner," Adhikari said.

Ghosh, the former Jhargram superintendant of police, was also stopped by the police near the Keshpur Bazar from moving around in a vehicle which allegedly did not have permit.

She claimed that it was a large-scale "political conspiracy" by the state administration to deter her from going to the polling stations where Trinamool cadres were giving proxy votes.

"I sought permission for the car and it was given to me last night. Now they are denying it. I have a proof on WhatsApp. My car has been seized and it was a ploy to deter me from moving around the constituency," Ghosh alleged.

Later, her vehicle was again stopped by the police on its way to Pingla.

Earlier in the day, Ghosh was allegedly spotted recording a video on her cellphone inside a polling booth in Ghatal. The Election Commission has asked the concerned District Magistrate to take adequate steps against Ghosh in connection with the incident. IANS