In the heart of West Bengal's political arena, a distressing tableau of unrestrained violence and turbulence has emerged, darkening the horizon of the imminent Panchayat elections. This ominous situation has ignited severe reproach from the Calcutta High Court. Justice Amrita Singh, the vocal critic of this disconcerting scenario, has stated her grave concerns explicitly. Her pointed observations have served as an eye-opener, spotlighting the heartrending violence, widespread unrest, and the deplorable loss of life that have consumed the state's electoral process.

In the previous week, the Calcutta High Court delivered a scathing critique of the Mamata Government, holding it accountable for the pervasive violence that has been spreading like wildfire ever since the nomination filing process commenced for the Three-tier Panchayati Raj System in West Bengal. This crucial event is slated to be held on July 8th, and the run-up to the occasion has been marred by alarming instances of chaos and conflict.

Justice Amrita Sinha, on Wednesday, June 21, delivered a fierce critique of the ruling dispensation. The court did not mince words as it expressed its deep-seated displeasure over the governing authorities' apparent indifference towards the escalating violence and widespread disorder in the state. Justice Sinha pointedly questioned the feasibility of conducting elections amid such tumultuous circumstances.

In her words, "The condition is such that in a Panchayat Election, there is so much unrest, violence, and bloodshed. It's a shame. What is the picture which is going out?" This damning statement stands testament to her sheer dismay at the grave scenario playing out in West Bengal.

Justice Singh's judicial bench has been flooded with a deluge of horrifying cases reporting rape, threats, violent attacks, and even murders. This unsettling trend raises serious questions about the state's law and order situation, particularly in the context of the upcoming elections.

Adding to this disturbing narrative, Justice Sinha also made a significant observation about the apparent incompetency of the State Election Commission in West Bengal. She noted that the Commission seems woefully incapable of carrying out its foundational duties of facilitating a free, fair, and peaceful election process.

Justice Sinha’s alarming oral observation has resonated throughout the courtroom. “So much violence in one Panchayat poll. So much disorder. So many clashes. This is a shame for a state. Why is there so much disorder? What is the State Election Commission doing?”

These searing comments were made during the hearing of a case concerning allegations of document tampering and misinformation supplied in the nomination papers of two panchayat poll candidates from the Howrah district. As a response to these allegations, Justice Amrita Sinha has demanded a probe by the CBI joint director by July 5 and has ordered that a report be submitted before the court on July 7.

However, in a surprising turn of events on Monday, June 26, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court overturned Justice Amrita Sinha’s decision to instigate a CBI probe. Instead, the bench commanded the West Bengal police to undertake the investigation. The inquiry will occur under the vigilant supervision of a one-man commission led by Justice (retd) Debiprosad Dey. The court's decision underscores its expectation of rigorous scrutiny into these grave allegations, a move that aims to salvage the integrity of the election process in West Bengal.

The Reign of Fear and Violence in West Bengal: An In-depth Analysis of the Tense Political Climate

West Bengal, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, seems to be caught in an unnerving cycle of relentless political violence that is casting a shadow on its democratic process. A once-celebrated region for its cultural richness and vibrancy is now making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Alarmingly, this pattern of violence appears to surge to an all-time high during election periods, be it the Panchayat elections of 2018, the Legislative Assembly elections in 2021, or the ongoing 2022 civic body polls.

The ominous echo of the ruling regime's unchecked brutality is evident, with opposition parties and dissenting voices being ruthlessly suppressed, raising grave concerns for democracy and freedom of speech.

Following the Assembly elections in May 2021, the state descended into a chilling abyss of anarchy and bloodshed that defied belief. Many activists from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced horrifying levels of aggression, intimidation, and, tragically, fatal attacks in what appeared to be a state-sponsored wave of violence after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) won the Vidhan Sabha elections. The aftermath of the victory was marred by horrifying episodes of brutality, with TMC activists unleashing terror against BJP members, giving a shocking dimension to the party's triumph.

News portal OpIndia took it upon itself to delve deeper into the matter and personally interacted with some of the victims of this violence. The narratives they uncovered were truly horrifying, painting a grim picture of state-sanctioned hostility.

The victims unanimously attributed the wave of violence to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, highlighting that their primary 'fault' was their affiliation with the BJP. The conversations revealed a chilling consensus - being a BJP voter was viewed as a criminal act, while working for the party was considered an unforgivable sin in the current Bengal political landscape.

The echoes of this pervasive violence were heard again on February 27, 2022, when civic body elections across 108 municipalities in 20 districts were conducted. The polling day was marred by a myriad of disconcerting incidents - violence, vandalism, assault, and suspected election malpractices.

It was reported that affiliates of the Trinamool Congress resorted to extreme measures, including hurling crude bombs, tampering with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and assaulting candidates and agents from opposition parties such as the BJP, Congress, and CPI (M). These unsettling occurrences took place despite the deployment of 44,000 police personnel and 135 election observers, including 108 general observers and 10 special observers, signifying the audacity of the transgressors and their disregard for law and order.

The troubling tale of violence continues to unfold in 2023, with the upcoming Panchayat polls scheduled for July 8 this year already being marred by violence. A spate of violence, reportedly incited by goons associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, has begun to cast a pall of fear across the state. Even during the preliminary stage of poll nominations, the state has been plunged into chaos and unrest. Tragically, at least 6 lives have already been lost, underscoring the dangerous turn that political disagreements are taking.

Specific incidents of violence have been reported from areas such as Cooch Behar, North and South 24 Paraganas, Murshidabad, Birbhum, East Midnapore, and East Burdwan, among others. It's a distressing reality that such a level of violence is seen in the nomination-filing stage itself, a phenomenon that is rarely, if ever, observed elsewhere in India.

This shocking trend of violence is not just a blow to the state's peace and harmony but also an alarming sign of the undermining of democratic processes. As observers and concerned citizens, we can only hope that necessary actions will be taken to restore peace and uphold democracy in West Bengal.