The Election Commission (EC) has ordered a probe after a video allegedly showing intimidation in West Bengal's Diamond Harbour surfaced online ahead of the second phase of polling.
Probe ordered after video surfaces
According to officials, the clip circulating on social media purportedly shows bike-borne men attempting to coerce or intimidate local residents, The Times of India reported. Soon after it came to light, the Commission acted, directing authorities to examine the incident.
A formal complaint was lodged at the local police station and a case has since been registered. Officials confirmed that an investigation is underway to verify the claims and establish the sequence of events captured in the video.
Case registered, investigation underway
Police said the case was filed at Diamond Harbour Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections related to criminal intimidation and unlawful acts. Authorities are currently looking into the authenticity of the footage and identifying those involved.
The development comes at a sensitive time, with campaigning for the second phase of the Assembly elections scheduled to conclude on Monday evening. Voting for this phase is set to take place on April 29.
Political response
Reacting to the controversy, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) functionary dismissed the allegations and questioned the narrative around the video.
"We have come across a video related to Diamond Harbour that is being fed to media by ECI, also known as the 'WhatsApp Commission', claiming that TMC netas are intimidating people. Campaigning is permitted till 10 pm, and the bike rally took place around 9.51 pm.
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There were no provocative slogans, but 'Bangla-Birodhis' (anti-Bengalis) get intimidated by 'Joy Bangla' slogans," the TMC functionary was quoted as saying by TOI.
The situation remains under scrutiny as authorities continue their probe into the incident.
