NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: As a precautionary step against any law and order incident during SIR-related hearings at panchayat/block/ward offices in West Bengal, the state chief electoral officer (CEO) has directed all district magistrates or district election officers (DEOs) to take steps to immediately file complaints or FIRs in the event of destruction of public property or threat/attack against any official or staff at the hearing venue.“DEOs should take steps for immediate filing of complaints/FIR with the local police station, with a copy mailed to superintendent of police and office of the CEO, West Bengal,” CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal said in a communication sent to all DMs and DEOs on Thursday.Agarwal further directed that in case violence and destruction of public property persists, hearings at the affected venue “should be adjourned sine die and would commence only with the approval of the CEO, West Bengal”. “Delay in filing of FIRs in such cases will be viewed very seriously and adverse inference shall be drawn against the DEO concerned,” he warned.Despite an EC directive, no FIR has been lodged by the Murshidabad district administration against Farakka Trinamool MLA Manirul Islam for vandalism at a BDO office and hate speech against the commission.The poll panel had issued the directive on Thursday. On Jan 14, a BDO office in Farakka was vandalised allegedly by TMC protesters, who alleged that citizens were being harassed at the hearing. Islam and his supporters were allegedly seen in the CCTV footage and other videos from the scene. On the BDO’s complaint, an FIR was lodged against unknown miscreants. Five people were arrested and later given bail. But Islam was not named in the FIR.In a letter to SDO Jangipur on Friday, Islam said, “I respectfully clarify that the remarks made by me... were neither intended to undermine the authority of the Election Commission nor to influence the electoral process in any improper manner.”
