Tension is high in Murshidabad, West Bengal, after a Block Development Office (BDO) in Farakka was reportedly ransacked during a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing on Wednesday. The incident has sparked political turmoil, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Farakka, Monirul Islam, of instigating the violence.

Reports indicate that the violence erupted when an agitated crowd stormed the Farakka Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) office, vandalizing furniture and disrupting the SIR hearing process. Slogans were allegedly raised against the Election Commission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The crowd was reportedly protesting the SIR process, alleging that document verification was being unfairly targeted at members of the Muslim community. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.

While Monirul Islam was present at the protest, he has denied any involvement by the TMC in the vandalism, claiming it was a spontaneous reaction from concerned residents. He defended his presence by stating that he was protesting the Election Commission's biased attitude and that he is ready to face legal consequences.

The BJP has strongly condemned the incident. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, attributed the violence to "radical elements" attempting to undermine the Constitution. The BJP's state president, Sukanta Majumdar, criticized the state government's inaction and alleged that such incidents are a result of sacrificing governance for vote-bank politics. The BJP has also accused the TMC of attacking Bengali Hindus and orchestrating a Hindu exodus in West Bengal. They further claim that a High Court panel report revealed the involvement of a TMC councillor who led attacks and a TMC MLA who witnessed vandalism without intervening.

The unrest has spread to other parts of the Murshidabad district, with reports of TMC MLAs leading protests outside the Beldanga Block Development Officer (BDO) office. The situation remains tense, and authorities have deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and armed police to maintain order in the affected areas.

The SIR process has been a contentious issue in West Bengal, with reports of disruptions and protests in other areas as well. The Election Commission's directive regarding the involvement of BLA2s (Booth Level Agents) in the process has also faced opposition. Furthermore, there have been allegations of government officials being harassed during SIR hearings.