PTI :
The Indian Election Commission of India ruled out a conspiracy in the alleged attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram district on Wednesday, saying there was no evidence to support the claim.
The poll panel concluded on Sunday that Mamata’s injuries were because of lapses on the part of her security personnel, PTI reported.
Mamata was injured on March 10 while campaigning in the district, where she is pitted against her former aide and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari.
According to the report of her initial medical examination, she sustained “severe bone injuries” on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck. She was released from hospital on Friday.
The Election Commission had sought a report on the incident from the local administration of Purba Medinipur after the Trinamool Congress filed a complaint.
The commission reviewed reports sent by the state government as well as its two poll observers, according to PTI.
Based on these reports, the poll panel blamed the chief minister’s security personnel for Mamata not using a bullet proof or armoured vehicle.
The chief minister had alleged that the attack on her was a political conspiracy. She said that she was intentionally shoved by four to five people who had entered the crowd, and that no police officer was present at the scene.
On March 11, a six-member Trinamool Congress delegation had submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission, reiterating allegations that the party chief was targeted as part of a “deep-rooted conspiracy.”
The memorandum cited social media posts and photos related to BJP leaders.
The BJP, on the other hand, accused Mamata of feigning an attack to gain public sympathy ahead of state elections.
A delegation of the saffron party, too, met the poll panel, and submitted a memorandum seeking an investigation into the incident.
On Sunday, Mamata attended her first public event, as she led a roadshow in Kolkata in a wheelchair.
Accompanied by senior Trinamool leaders, she was seen greeting the crowd with folded hands, with security personnel pushing her wheelchair, NDTV reported.
“I’m still in a lot of pain, but I feel the pain of my people even more,” Mamata tweeted ahead of the big rally in Kolkata.
