FIR against TMC councillors, others for 'unlawful assembly' outside Chief Electoral Officer's office in Kolkata

The complaint names six prominent individuals, while several others have been booked as unidentified persons, officials added.

Kolkata: Police on Thursday registered an FIR against several people, including two TMC councillors, for allegedly assembling unlawfully and defying police instructions near the state election office here, a senior officer said.

"An FIR has been lodged against multiple people for unlawful assembly and disobedience of police directions," a senior officer said.

The complaint names six prominent individuals, including Ward 36 councillor Sachin Singh and Ward 32 councillor Shanti Ranjan Kundu, while several others have been booked as unidentified persons, officials added.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night outside the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office on Strand Road, under Hare Street police station, when the group allegedly gathered to protest against the submission of Form 6 applications.

On Tuesday morning, a group of BLOs, allegedly backed by the ruling TMC, protested outside the CEO's office here over alleged voter list manipulation, and scuffled with police and BJP workers.

According to police, the group gathered in front of the election office without permission, allegedly violating prohibitory orders.

"The situation turned tense for a while as the gathering continued despite instructions to disperse," another officer said, adding that further investigation into the matter is underway.

The office of the CEO on Wednesday flagged alleged "anti-social activity" outside its premises, sharing a video on social media regarding the councillor gheraoing and asserting that any attempt to disrupt the electoral process would not be tolerated.

The CEO's office has alleged that a councillor from Beleghata, accompanied by some people, had gathered outside the office on Tuesday night and raised slogans.

"Councillor Beleghata, with some hooligans, gheraoed the CEO's office and shouted slogans in the dead of night. Such anti-social activities will not be tolerated, and the law will take its own course. ECI will leave no stone unturned to ensure free and fair assembly elections.@ECISVEEP," the CEO office posted on X.

CEO Manoj Agarwal had said the EC would step in if the police failed to act.

"Section 163 has been imposed in the area by the Kolkata Police Commissioner. It is the responsibility of the police to maintain order. If they fail, the Commission will take necessary action," he had said.

The administration on Wednesday partially revised the boundaries of the BNSS Section 163 area around the CEO's office at 13 Strand Road, Fairly Place, citing a potential threat to law and order.

A rally of SUCI supporters held a similar demonstration outside the CEO's office, leading to clashes with security personnel.

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the BJP of attempting to illegally include voters from outside West Bengal in this state's electoral rolls in bulk by means of Form 6 applications.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had alleged on Monday that nearly 30,000 Form 6s were submitted by the BJP in a single day to register residents of other states as voters in West Bengal.