The area near the BDO’s office in Bhangar II, West Bengal, is showing signs of violence and arson. Sixteen vehicles, including auto-rickshaws, pick-up vans, small trucks, and private cars, are abandoned and burnt. The nearby Bijoyganj market ground has also been ransacked and destroyed. This violence occurred during clashes between members of the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Indian Secular Front (ISF) during the nomination filing process. Three people died, others were shot, and many were injured in these clashes. The tension remains even though the nomination process is over and security forces are present in the area.
Bhangar has a history of violent panchayat elections, but the recent violence is particularly significant. The conflict in Bhangar is between two Muslim factions: one supporting the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the other supporting the Indian Secular Front (ISF), which was founded by a member of the Siddiqui family from Furfura Sharif, a famous shrine in the state. Naushad Siddiqui, a member of this family, won the Bhangar assembly seat in 2021, which has a large Muslim population. The South 24 Parganas district has 29 blocks, including two that fall within the Bhangar assembly constituency. There are a total of 6,383 panchayat seats in the district, with candidates from TMC, BJP, and CPI(M) contesting for them.
