In a bizarre incident, in which  one Presiding Officer was physically assaulted by a ruling party leader  in the second phase of Lok sabha election on April 26 last has triggered widespread criticism and the poll panel after four days of the incident, has taken cognizance of the incident and arrested accused person.

Later, arrested prime accused Kajal Das, Sabhadhipati of North Tripura Zilla Parishad and a local BJP leader was released on bail.

While, the Election department has issued notice to BJP MLA, Jadav Lal Nath for manhandling booth level officer.

BJP MLA of Bagabassa Assembly constituency Yadav Lal Nath was served a notice by the District Election Officer (DEO) on April 28 for allegedly manhandling a booth level officer (BLO) at a polling booth in North Tripura district.

The BJP MLA and his associates had entered the booth under Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency and allegedly manhandled BLO Chinmoy Das during polling on April 26.

Based on the allegation, the District Election Officer (DEO), Debapriya Bardhan, issued a notice to MLA Yadav Lal Nath asking him to explain why he barged into the booth by flouting the ECI guidelines and manhandled the BLO, said a statement issued by the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura.

The shameful incident reportedly held at Uttar Hurua Higher Secondary School under Bagbassa assembly constituency under East Tripura parliamentary constituency on Friday last, in which  on-duty Presiding Officer Narayan Chakraborty, of Polling Station  No 55/22  was publicly slapped in front of the voters and security personnel led by one Kajal Das, Sabhadhipati of North Tripura Zilla Parishad and local BJP leader.

Sources said that at the end of polling on April 26th, few voters allegedly came without valid photo identity cards issued by the government and the on-duty Presiding Officer tried to convince them that without valid identity cards, no voter can cast their vote.

One elector Pinki Das alleged that she was not allowed to vote by the Presiding Officer as her vote had already been cast and it was she who fetched the ruling party leaders and activists to address the issue without going for a tendered vote.

Then, all of sudden, miscreants led by Kajal Das started physically assaulting the presiding officer before listening to the statement of his, Kajal Das slapped on the face of the officer in front of voters and Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) posted at that polling station.

But, after cognizance by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a police complaint was lodged against BJP leader Kajal Das and others by the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) of  Bagbasa assembly seat at Kadamtala police station under section 353/332/34 of IPC and section-131(1) of  Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The Election department also added that after the implementing officer of Kadamtala police station issued notice against accused Kajal Das, accused Das appeared at the police station in person and got bail.

The statement added that under the supervision of the SP of North Tripura district, a special investigation team was formed to expedite the inquiry process.