Stories
Votes looted in Nandigram claims Congress candidate, police lathi charge
- •Tension erupted in Garchakraberia as minority women protested, alleging they were not allowed to vote.
- •Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was reportedly injured after police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse protesters.
- •Pradhan accused outsiders of looting votes and announced plans to lodge an FIR against BJP leaders.
- •Earlier in Sonachura, Milan Pradhan faced protests and was surrounded by slogan-shouting crowds.
- •The Congress party alleged widespread intimidation and failure to allow their polling agents to sit since morning.
Key Questions Answered
During the Nandigram by-election, minority women and Congress candidate Milan Pradhan alleged that votes were being looted, people were not being allowed to cast their votes, and agents were blocked from sitting. Pradhan also claimed that intimidation and bike squads had created an atmosphere of fear since the night before.
After women staged a protest and advanced toward central forces and police following allegations of vote looting in Garchakraberia, the police brandished lathis and charged to disperse the crowd. Congress candidate Milan Pradhan alleged that he was injured during this police lathi charge.
Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with pending cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram agitation, which included allegations of murder, rioting, and offences under the Arms Act. The Congress party alleged political vendetta and questioned the timing of the arrest right before the by-election.
