Desk Correspondent , Kolkata – The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections was marred by intense violence today in Murshidabad, where BJP candidate Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury was chased by an angry mob and forced to flee a polling station. The situation escalated when protesters, allegedly affiliated with rival political factions, smeared black ink over the Lotus symbol on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to prevent voters from selecting the BJP. These incidents led to a temporary halt in polling across several booths as security forces struggled to contain the agitated crowds and restore order.

The confrontation began early Thursday morning when Chaudhury arrived to inspect reports of voter intimidation. Witnesses described a scene of total lawlessness as her convoy was surrounded by protesters shouting slogans and pelted with stones. Simultaneously, reports emerged from various parts of the district detailing organized efforts to disrupt the democratic process, including the physical obstruction of booths and the defacing of election materials. Local police and central paramilitary forces eventually intervened, using baton charges to disperse the mobs and escorting the BJP candidate to safety.

The Election Commission has sought an immediate report from the district magistrate regarding the security lapses and the targeting of candidates. While the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP have traded blame for the unrest, the violence has cast a shadow over the first phase of voting in the state. Despite the localized chaos, the Commission stated that additional security reinforcements have been deployed to the sensitive pockets of Murshidabad to ensure that polling continues for the remainder of the day under heavy surveillance.