Satgachia turns volatile after toddler reportedly injured in lathi-charge at polling booth

Tension escalated sharply in Satgachia village under South 24 Parganas during the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections after a toddler was reportedly injured during a lathi-charge by central forces. The incident occurred at booth number 116, where forces allegedly resorted to baton charge to disperse a gathering crowd, triggering panic and chaos at the polling location.

According to local residents, the child, aged around one to two years, was in someone’s arms when the lathi-charge took place and was struck during the commotion. The incident quickly spread across the area, leading to anger among locals who gathered and protested by surrounding the central forces. While personnel reportedly described the injury as accidental, their explanation failed to pacify the crowd, and tensions continued to rise in the area.

The unrest in Satgachia comes amid multiple reports of disturbances across polling regions in the second phase, including halted voting in Canning West and prolonged disruption in Monteswar. Authorities remained on alert as voter turnout continued, with East Bardhaman recording 67 percent voting by 1 pm, even as sporadic incidents of tension added pressure on election management.