THE politics of polarisation and violence took its fatal toll in Sitalkuchi in Coochbehar district in the fourth phase of elections in West Bengal. Five youth were killed, four of them in CISF firing in a bizarre turn of events.

Sitalkuchi witnessed communal campaign and incitement to violence from the BJP and the TMC even before the elections. In the election campaign, BJP leaders upped the ante of their poisonous campaign. On the other hand, chief minister Mamata Banerjee called upon ‘people’ to ‘gherao’ the central forces. Both these culminated into blood-spilling on the voting day.

It is still not clear why the CISF forces resorted to brutal firing on the voting day where 15 rounds were fired. Initially they claimed, along with the police superintendent of the district that a mob attacked the central forces and they were ‘forced to retaliate in self defence’. But even after five days of the incident, no evidence of such a mob attack was put forward. Lots of questions remained unanswered. If the mob was in fact there, how were they mobilised in front of the booth? Why they were not chased away? How could such a mobilisation take place when central forces and police were monitoring the area? In the CISF report, there was no mention of any jawan’s injury. What then was the extent of so-called attack on the forces which needed such a firing? Where is the CCTV footage or webcast footage that can provide evidence to the whole incident? Why did the CISF take recourse to firing without even using other methods?

Left parties’ and Sanjukta Morcha leaders immediately condemned the firing and later submitted a deputation to the election commission demanding a high level inquiry under judicial monitoring. Morcha leaders, including the CPI(M) candidate from Sitalkuchi met the families of the deceased and assured them all legal support. Those killed included a student and migrant workers who had returned to vote. Protest rallies were taken out by the Morcha throughout the state against the firing.

BJP leaders have shamelessly used this firing to incite communal passions and flexed their muscles. BJP state president Dilip Ghosh in a shocking statement warned that there would be ‘many more Sitalkuchi’. BJP leader Rahul Sinha said that ‘seven to eight should have been killed’. CPI(M) leader Md Salim, at a press conference, retorted by asking if the triggers of the guns carried by the central forces were actually in the hands of the BJP leaders.

It was clear that the BJP tried to instill a sense of fear and create an atmosphere to show that they are the real operators of the central forces. Home minister Amit Shah reiterated this version by justifying the firing without even the enquiry by the election commission. The silence and apathy of the commission is also notable.

Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand is trying to use this incident to cover up her misdeeds and turn the election campaign onto the so-called aggression of the centre. She was banned from the campaign for 24 hours for her communal comments and incitement to violence against the central forces. Initially the BJP leaders were let free.

It was clear from all facts that the entire episode was a result of conspiracy. It did not happen for some immediate reasons. Rumours were spread, villagers were falsely incited, central forces acted in undue haste and all evidence was meticulously destroyed before an enquiry could be initiated.

It happened at a time when the binary between the TMC and the BJP has been broadly broken and the Sanjukta Morcha is gaining ground. Morcha, in fact , won over large sections of people. Huge mobilisations are taking place in Morcha election rallies. Exuberance of youth participation in the Morcha rallies has tilted the balance of forces. CPI(M) state secretary Surya Misra has alleged that there was an understanding between the BJP and the TMC in a number of constituencies.