India’s Election Commission rules out attack on Mamata, says it was 'accident'

India's Election Commission today ruled out any attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram assembly constituency where she is in fray for the coming polls, sources in the polls body said today.

 

Mamata fell down and sustained injuries on her left leg and waist, the sources said.

 

After reviewing the reports sent by two of the EC's special poll observers deputed in West Bengal and the state government on the incident, the EC concluded that Mamata sustained injuries in Nandigram due to "lapse on the part of her security in charge."

 

The reports said Mamata was not using a bullet proof or an armoured vehicle despite being a star campaigner and it was a "lapse" on the part of those responsible for her security, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

 

There were allegations that the door of her SUV was pushed while she was campaigning in Nandigram on Wednesday evening after filing her nomination from the constituency.

 

Seated in a wheelchair and accompanied by senior leaders of her Trinamool Congress, Mamata returned to the poll campaign trail today by leading a procession from Mayo Road in central Kolkata to Hazra in the south --  four days after sustaining the injuries and spending a couple of days in a hospital.

 

West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay submitted a second report on the incident to the EC on Saturday after the polls watchdog said his initial report was "sketchy."

 

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress as well as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party had approached the EC to raise their concerns over the Nandigram incident.

 

"The events/actions leading up to the attempt on her life, leave no doubt that the attack was premeditated and part of a deep-rooted conspiracy," Trinamool Congress wrote in a letter to the EC.

 

On the other hand, the BJP too had moved the EC and demanded an impartial probe into the incident and that the video footage of the incident be made public.

 

Soon after the incident on Wednesday evening, Mamata had herself described it as a "pre-planned attack" on her but did not name anyone for it.

 

Mamata is pitted against her former top aide Suvendhu Adhikari, who has switched over to the BJP, in the Nandigram poll battle.