LS poll: BJP candidate Bharati Ghosh attacked and heckled in Bengal

The attack left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in tears.

According to reports, women candidates of the ruling Trinamool Congress Party surrounded her and heckled as she tried to enter a polling booth in the state along with her polling agent.

Amid reports that Ghosh was trying to enter the booth with her mobile phone in an attempt to record video, the Election Commission has sought a report from the former IPS officer.

"I am a candidate. I can always enter a polling booth. Those who are trying to stop me should be arrested. They (Trinamool) are resorting to organised violence against me," Bharati Ghosh told reporters before leaving the spot.

Later her convoy was also attacked near Keshpur and stones were pelted on her car. In fact, one of her bodyguards was also injured in the attack.

A Trinamool Congress activist was also injured after he was hit by a bullet fired by Ghosh's bodyguard during the violence.

West Bengal has witnessed violence in almost all the phases of the Lok Sabha election as Trinamool Congress and BJP activists clashed in several arts of the state.

On Saturday, the Trinamool Congress and BJP workers had clashed during a meeting of Ghosh in Paschim Midnapore district.

According to reports, two TMC workers were injured during the clash.

However, unofficial sources claimed that as many as 16 members belonging to both parties were injured in the clashes.

Bharati Ghosh is contesting against popular Bengali actor Dev or Deepak Adhikari, who has already served as an MP in the last term from Ghatal.

Cash Seizure:

On Thursday night, Rs. 1.13 lakh cash was allegedly seized by the police from Ghosh's car.

The seizure was done after her car was stopped for checking in Pingla, 114 km from Kolkata.

Police reportedly asked everyone in the car to put their cash into a bag.

Ghosh deposited Rs. 50,000, her assistant the same and her driver, Rs. 13, 895, said reports.

The ex-IPS officer was asked to sign the list of seized items from her car but she refused to do so unless the two others from whom cash had been seized also signed it.

Following the scuffle, Ghosh was detained for nearly three hours and quizzed. After this, Ghosh was allowed to go home.

Ghosh claimed she was carrying only 50,000 personally and that the rest amount belonged to her assistant and driver.

The police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Ghosh for "preventing a government official from doing their duty and trying to intimidate them".

Ghosh had been in controversy for threatening TMC supporters in her constituency that she would drag them from their homes and thrash them like dogs if they tried to prevent BJP voters from exercising their rights.

Ghosh was once very close to Mamata Banerjee and used to refer her as "mother."

However, the two differed allegedly over the former police officer's alleged involvement in a gold scam.

Ghosh then considered her posting as punishment and quit the police service.

Following whish joined the BJP in February.

Polling for the sixth and penultimate phase of the Lok Sabha election to eight Lok Sabha seats of Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur began at 7 AM under the strict glare of Central Security Forces on Sunday.

The results will be declared on May 23.