BJP approaches EC over Bengal law & order

Alleging that West Bengal's law and order machinery had been hijacked by criminals under the patronage of the ruling Trinamool Congress, the BJP Monday approached the Election Commission seeking adequate security measures for the Sep 13 bypoll in two assembly seats.

Led by party vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation met the chief electoral officer here, seeking deployment of central paramilitary forces in all booths for the bypoll in Basirhat South in North 24 Parganas district and Chowringhee in Kolkata.

"Unfortunately, the law and order machinery in Bengal has been hijacked by anti-socials and criminals under the patronage and protection of the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) and the Trinamool government," Naqvi told mediapersons after the meeting.

"So we have demanded that central paramilitary forces be deployed in all the booths. We have also demanded that North 24 Paraganas district magistrate Sanjay Bansal should also be removed from election duty," added Naqvi.

Naqvi said Bansal has been acting like a Trinamool Congress worker creating hindrance in conducting a free and fair poll and like during the Lok Sabha poll, the IAS officer should be removed from poll duty this time as well.

The BJP leaders also urged the poll panel to look into the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

"We have asked the EC to give special emphasis to the illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators who enjoy Trinamool patronage and vote for it," added Naqvi.