Chaos outside CEO office as SUCI protest turns violent; Section 163 imposed on Strand Road

Fresh unrest erupted outside the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office in Kolkata on Wednesday as a protest by the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) turned chaotic, prompting police to impose Section 163 on Strand Road. Demonstrators clashed with security personnel, attempted to break barricades, and raised slogans over allegations of irregularities in the voter list, further escalating tensions in an already volatile area.

The protest was triggered by claims that names of legitimate voters were being removed while fake entries were being added during the ongoing electoral roll revision process. As SUCI supporters marched towards the CEO office, police had already set up barricades along the route. Upon reaching the site, protesters tried to force their way through, leading to heated confrontations and physical scuffles with the police.

The situation severely disrupted traffic in central Kolkata, particularly along Strand Road and adjoining areas, where long queues of vehicles, including buses heading towards Howrah, were stranded for hours. Daily commuters faced significant inconvenience as the protest brought movement in the area to a near standstill. In response, a heavy police presence was deployed to restore order and prevent further escalation.

The incident comes amid heightened political tensions around the CEO office over the past two days, with multiple protests linked to Form 6 submissions and voter list allegations. A recent incident involving an individual allegedly entering the office with a large number of Form 6 documents had already sparked controversy. Authorities had clarified that any citizen has the right to submit claims, even as police registered a case and initiated inquiries. Wednesday’s developments underline the growing unrest surrounding the electoral process ahead of the Assembly elections.