Overview
- A polling staffer in Ranaghat, identified as school teacher Saikat Chattopadhyay, said he was beaten Friday after he objected to a promotional video of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shown during a mandatory training session, which he argued violated the Model Code of Conduct that bars political propaganda in official settings.
- The Election Commission asked the Nadia district election officer for a report, and officials said police have registered an FIR against two people directly linked to the alleged attack.
- Training at Debnath Institution High School paused as polling personnel protested in support of the complainant, and the Sub-Divisional Officer arrived to restore order while the district administration said it is verifying the facts.
- Hanskhali Block Development Officer Sayantan Bhattacharya, named by the complainant, denied any assault took place, highlighting that key details about who was responsible remain in dispute.
- District officials said the same video had circulated earlier through Ranaghat-I subdivision channels, which raises concerns about improper influence on election staff and has fueled sharp political claims from BJP and TMC.