In a bizarre incident, in which  one Presiding Officer was physically assaulted by a ruling party leader  in the second phase of Lok sabha election on April 26 last has triggered widespread criticism and the Election Commission of India (ECI) panel after four days of the incident, has taken cognizance of the incident and lodged an FIR against miscreants.

The shameful  incident reportedly held at  Uttar Hurua Higher Secondary School under Bagbassa assembly constituency under East Tripura parliamentary constituency on Friday last, in which  on-duty Presiding Officer Narayan Chakraborty, of Polling Station  No 55/22  was publicly slapped in front of the voters and security personnel led by one Kajal Das, Sabhadhipati of North Tripura Zilla Parishad and local BJP leader.

Sources said that at the end of polling on April 26th, few voters allegedly came without valid photo identity cards issued by the government and the on-duty Presiding Officer tried to convince them that without valid identity cards, no voter can cast their vote.

One elector Pinki Das alleged that she was not allowed to vote by the Presiding Officer as her vote had already been cast and it was she who fetched the ruling party leaders and activists to address the issue without going for a tendered vote.

Then, all of sudden, miscreants led by Kajal Das started physically assaulting the presiding officer before listening to the statement of the presiding officer, Kajal Das slapped on the face of the officer in front of voters and Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) posted at that polling station.

Sources alleged that  attackers were trespassers as they were not voters of that booth. The SDPO (Dharmanagar) Debasish Saha kept mum on the issue as there was no FIR lodged  over the incident.

What is unacceptable, neither the Sector Officer nor the Police Officer of their jurisdiction took cognizance of the offense and to lodge a Suo-Moto FIR over the bizarre incident, in which ruling party supporters allegedly attacked an on-duty presiding officer.

Till Sunday, accused persons are moving scot-free and insulted and terrified  Presiding Officer  did not also filed any complaint before the competent, but one thing is clear if the administration keep their eyes closed in such hooliganism during the greatest festival of democracy, then in future many president officer  will never be able to conduct an election in a free and fair manner unless no legal action is taken against accused persons. The incident went viral on social media and netizens were surprised to see the manhandling of a presiding officer in front of CAPFs .

But, after cognizance by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a police complaint was lodged against BJP leader Kajal Das and others by the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) of  Bagbasa assembly seat at Kadamtala police station.

According to a press statement issued by the Election department of Tripura, Kajal Das and his associates physically assaulted the presiding officer of booth number 22 under Bagbasa assembly seat when he attempted to clear the unnecessary crowding in the polling station.

The Election department also added that after the implementing officer of Kadamtala police station issued notice against accused Kajal Das, accused Das appeared at the police station in person.

The statement added that under the supervision of the SP of North Tripura district, a special investigation team was formed to expedite the inquiry process.