Revoke candidature of BJP’s Karimganj candidate Kripanath Mallah: Cong SOS to CEC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 27, 2024

 In the aftermath of a local court registered a criminal case against social chief secretary (forest) Mahendra Kumar Yadava and eight other officials for threatening some Muslim voters to vote for BJP, Assam Congress on Saturday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to revoke candidature of Kripanath Mollah, BJP candidate from Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency, the election for which were conducted on Friday.

The incident came to light after a group of people from Cheragi and other villages in Karimganj and Hailakandi approached the court of the chief judicial magistrate of Karimganj against the nine top forest officials, including special chief secretary (forest Mahendra Kumar Yadava and 45 others for allegedly threatening them, using unparliamentary words and also trying to influence them to vote for ruling BJP in the election.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, APCC general secretary Bipul Gogoi said: “On April 6 and thereafter, in election campaign meetings held in places such as Ratabari, Ram Krishna Nagar, Patharkandi area, Ratabari MLA Bijoy Malakar representing the BJP, had openly threatened Muslim voters, using loudspeakers as well as by approaching them, directing the Muslim voters to vote in favour of BJP candidate Kripanath Mallah or else all Muslim voters would face the consequence of being evicted from their homestead land by using Bulldozers/ JCBs.”

“Complaint in this regard had already been filed before different authorities of the Election Commission along with video footage as proof. An FIR being Ratabari PS case number 91/2024 under section 153(A)/ 171(F)/ 171(F)/ 120(B) of IPC against Bijoy Malakar was also filed and registered,” Gogoi said.

“Since April 21, several government officials belonging to the Assam forest department and personnel belonging to the Assam Police had been visiting several villages, day and night, creating havoc by threatening residents of the villages under the Ratabari Police Station of evicting them if they do not cast votes in favour of the BJP candidate,” Gogoi also said. 

“During this period, the forest officials/police personnel/ commandos went house to house in areas lying under Ratabari Police Station, Bilaipur area of Hailakandi district and areas falling under Patharkandi, calling the residents of individual houses out of their houses, asking them to stand in front of their residences for taking photographs. They were then warned that if they do not cast votes in favour of the BJP candidate Kripa Nath Mallah then their houses will be demolished by using bulldozers,” ge said.

“Being aggrieved, some of the victims had filed a complaint before the court of the chief judicial magistrate, Karimganj on April 24 which is registered as CJM Karimganj vide CR case number 446/2024 under sections 504/506/120 B and 171 F of IPC against MK Yadava & others,” he also said.

“These are clear examples of using government forces in favour of the ruling BJP candidate. Therefore, I on behalf of the Indian National Congress and the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee request to take appropriate and strict legal action against Bijoy Malakar for threatening voters of the Muslim community.

He also urged the CEC to take any other appropriate actions against all persons indulged in violating the law of the land.

It has been alleged that MK Yadava, there were also RK Das (CCF, Cachar Circle), Vijay Palve (DFO, Cachar Division), Akhil Dutta (DFO, Hailakhandi Division) and Chiranjiv Jain (DFO, Karimganj Division), along with 35 commandos of Assam Police Commando Batallion, visited the minority areas for four consecutive days and marked their houses during day time. 

In the nighttime, they called for meetings in these areas and commandos headed the people in. Mobile phones were taken away and lights were put off so that no one could record the video. The minority community people were told to either vote for BJP or face eviction.

A legal notice has been served upon them by a local lawyer MS Talukdar. 

An FIR has also been lodged against this set of officers. The Election Commission is yet to register a case for violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

The incident took place starting on April 21 for four days. Yadava arrived by road with the convoy of 65 commandos- 35 commandos from Guwahati, and 30 from Damcherra Assam Police Commando Battalion. 

The minority community hamlets were surrounded in the name of “area domination.” It reminded a scene from the movie Schindler’s List.

In a complaint before the CJM, the residents alleged that the forest officials with 40-45 police commando, entered the houses, searched for hours, kept them outside and later clicked their pictures. 

Lawyer Abdul Kashim Talukdar and lawyer Momotaz Begam complained to the CJM court on behalf of the residents. 

“The officials asked us to vote for BJP candidate Kripanath Mallah or we would be evicted from our houses by bulldozers after June 7,” the complaint stated.

“They addressed us using abusive and insulting languages like refugees, bangalor bangal hokol etc and asked to vote for BJP candidate,” they also alleged. 

“They also said that if we vote for BJP then we can reside here peacefully and happily even by constructing pucca houses and buildings,” the residents alleged in the court.

 “We were taken to the forest office at night and were kept there for hours by the officials. Their mobile phones were taken away and they were called in a room one by one. An environment of fear was created to threaten them properly,” they further said. 

“One official can personally support a party but he cannot force any other citizen to support that party. We have proof against them and will submit this before the court on the day of the hearing,” they added.