Tension in West Bengal’s Chopra after bike-borne youth prevent locals from casting votes, attack women; RAF deployed

Tension was reported in the first few hours of voting in North Dinajpur's Chopra, which falls under Darjeeling constituency in West Bengal. Locals alleged that bike-borne youths prevented them from casting their votes. The women of the village also claimed that they were attacked by these bike-borne miscreants.

Locals have alleged that a lack of security forces led to the situation of unrest near the polling booth. "Since morning, we tried to go to the polling booth to cast our votes. Each time we were prevented from casting our votes. These miscreants attacked the women of the village. They beat us up so that we get afraid and go back home without casting our votes. The booth has been manned by the state police officials but there are no central forces. Had they been deployed there, we could have been able to cast our vote," said an agitating local.

WB: Security personnel lob tear gas shells and lathi charge locals as they block NH-34 in protest after unknown miscreants allegedly prevented them from casting their votes at Digirpar polling booth in Chopra, in Islampur subdivision of North Dinajpur. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/XukT8B8Aol — ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2019

The tension increased after the agitating locals blocked the National Highway 31. Police had to resort to lathicharge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the agitating locals.

A contingent of state police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed at the spot to prevent any further agitation or a road blockade.

Meanwhile, the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office has sought a report from the district magistrate of North Dinajpur in connection with the incident.