Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday directed to register an FIR against Trinamool Congress MLA Monirul Islam for alleged vandalism at the Farakka Block Development Office (BDO) in West Bengal last week. The poll body asked the district administration to file the FIR by 5 pm, after observing that an earlier case did not name the MLA.A senior Election Commission official said Islam, accompanied by supporters, had staged a protest outside the Farakka BDO office against alleged “harassment of the public” during the SIR exercise, following which the office was vandalised. The Commission took cognisance of the incident and spoke to West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, directing that an FIR be lodged. While an FIR was initially registered, it did not name the local MLA as an accused, prompting the EC to order a fresh FIR specifically naming Islam, as reported by news agency PTI. According to the official, the unrest was triggered by protests from a section of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who alleged that citizens were being harassed during the SIR process. The situation escalated when protesters led by the MLA marched to the BDO office, raising slogans against the exercise and the protest allegedly turned violent.The incident dates back to June 14, when the Farakka BDO office in Murshidabad district was allegedly raided during an ongoing SIR hearing. A written complaint filed by BDO Junaid Ahamed stated that around 1.30 pm, a group of unidentified individuals stormed multiple official rooms and vandalised government property in the presence of BLOs, the Joint BDO, the OC Election and other Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs). During the chaos, one AERO reportedly sustained injuries while trying to protect himself.A case was registered at the Farakka police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act and two arrests were made.The incident also triggered sharp political reactions. BJP MLA Gouri Sankar accused TMC MLA Monirul Islam of leading the vandalism and targeted chief minister Mamata Banerjee over the violence. Speaking to ANI, Sankar said, “Today, Farakka MLA Manirul Islam vandalised the block office. How can a public representative vandalise property? Who gave him the right to do so? Are they not Indian citizens, or are they Bangladeshis who think they can vandalise a block office in India?”He added, “The public is ready to give them a befitting reply. In the 2026 elections, whether it’s Manirul or someone else, they will get their answer from the public.”The BJP further alleged that the violence was politically instigated. “Mamata Banerjee is instigating her party cadres across the state to riot, commit violence, and destroy property. All these actions are carried out under Mamata Banerjee’s instructions,” the party said, alleging that corruption and destruction in the state occurred under the chief minister’s watch.
