Ranaghat, March 27: A primary school teacher assigned as a first polling officer in Nadia was physically assaulted during an election training session in Ranaghat on Friday after raising objections to the screening of a state government advertisement. Saikat Chatterjee, a resident of Payradanga, reportedly protested the display of a video featuring Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her development initiatives—specifically the inauguration of the Jagannath temple in Digha—arguing that the screening constituted a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in poll-bound Bengal.
The incident has triggered serious concerns regarding the integrity of administrative personnel entrusted with election duties and the safety of government staff on the ground.
The confrontation occurred at the Ranaghat Debnath Institution for Boys, where Chatterjee’s objections were supported by several other polling officials. This led to a heated altercation between the protesting teachers and district administration officials, alongside outsourced staff hired to manage the audio-visual equipment. The dispute turned violent when these officials and their staff allegedly attacked Chatterjee, thrashing him until he was rescued by colleagues with a bleeding forehead. In the aftermath, outraged polling personnel refused to resume the training until the accused were arrested, launching a demonstration that ultimately forced the postponement of the day’s programme. The personnel later moved their protest to the SDO Ranaghat’s office, only withdrawing it after receiving assurances of a proper investigation based on Chatterjee’s formal complaint.
Raising sharp questions about the environment in which they are expected to work, Chatterjee noted that he was simply following Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines when the Block Development Officer (BDO) in charge and his staff allegedly turned violent. He questioned how the administration could guarantee safety on polling day if staff are not secure within a government-organized training session. The situation required a large police force to restore order at the venue. Srikant Palli, District Magistrate and District Election Officer of Nadia, stated that the administration is seriously concerned and will take appropriate action based on the findings of an ongoing inquiry.
Meanwhile, a section of the polling personnel has leveled serious allegations that workers linked to the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) had infiltrated the training sessions as temporary staff to influence officials through the screening of these videos. Chatterjee further alleged that the individuals handling the technical equipment were active Trinamool Congress cadres who turned aggressive when he asked to see their identification cards. He accused the BDO of providing “indulgence” to the attackers and inciting them like a party worker rather than managing the situation. “If such is the transparency and fairness of polling arrangements, no vote is required at all,” Chatterjee remarked.
The incident has quickly escalated into a political flashpoint. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari took to social media to claim that Chatterjee was “brutally assaulted and left bloodied” for demanding impartiality, describing the event as part of a broader “culture of terror” where the administration acts as a tool for the state government. Adhikari urged the ECI to register an FIR and take strict action against those responsible. Local BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar also joined the condemnation, alleging that the teacher was targeted and branded a BJP worker for his protest. Conversely, BDO Hanskhali Sayantan Bhattacharyya rubbished the assault claims, accusing Chatterjee of misbehaving with staff and creating unrest by demanding identity cards from projector operators who do not carry them. Bhattacharyya suggested the injury may have occurred during a scuffle caused by the teacher’s own behavior. In response to the unrest, the Election Commission has sought a detailed report from the DEO and directed state police to ensure the absolute security of all polling personnel.