“I have a question for West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee: Where are women safe in West Bengal?” Former NCW Chief
| Photo Credit: PTI

Former National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma stated, “It does not seem that this is the work of one person,” on Saturday (August 17, 2024) while discussing the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

She also accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of attempting to shield those involved in the incident. “It does not seem that this is the work of one person; there are others involved whom Mamata Banerjee wants to protect. Now that the case is with the CBI, a full investigation will reveal what she was trying to conceal,” Ms. Sharma added.

Also Read: Kolkata doctor rape-murder case LIVE: West Bengal Health Department revokes transfer of 42 doctors; prohibitory orders in place around R.G. Kar Medical College

Addressing the same issue earlier on August 12, 2024, Ms. Sharma said, “It is a very unfortunate and tragic incident… If a woman is not safe at her workplace, where will she be safe? I have a question for West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee: Where are women safe in West Bengal? There is a significant concern regarding the functioning of the police. The CM is now saying that she will hand over the case to the CBI; this should have been done on the very first day. Women are not safe in West Bengal, and the president’s rule should be imposed. The West Bengal government is failing to protect the women of the state. The central government should intervene.”

On August 9, 2024, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, sparking nationwide strikes and protests by the medical community.

On Wednesday (August 14, 2024), the protest ground and the hospital campus at RG Kar were vandalized by a mob, prompting security personnel to disperse the crowd. Amid the ongoing protests, the Kolkata Police imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (formerly Section 144 of the CrPC), around the Medical College and Hospital for seven days, effective from Sunday (August 18, 2024).

New Delhi:

The fourth phase of voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections begins today in 96 Lok Sabha constituencies across 10 states and Union Territories. A total of 1,717 candidates are in the fray in this phase. 

Polling is being held in all 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, all 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh, 13 in Uttar Pradesh, five in Bihar, four in Jharkhand, eight in Madhya Pradesh, 11 in Maharashtra, four in Odisha, eight in West Bengal and one in Jammu and Kashmir.

Voting is also taking place in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency and it is the first major election in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Voting is simultaneously be held in all 175 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh and 28 in Odisha in the fourth phase. 

More than 19 lakh polling officials have been deployed at 1.92 lakh polling stations for the over 17.70 crore eligible voters in this round. 

Prominent candidates in the fray are Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Union minister Giriraj Singh, TMC’s firebrand leader Mohua Moitra and AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury,  former cricketer Yusuf Pathan of TMC, Andhra Pradesh Congress president YS Sharmila among others. 

The Lok Sabha elections are being held across seven phases, from April 19 to June 1. The counting is scheduled for June 4.

Here are the LIVE updates on Phase 4 Voting:

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Lok Sabha Election Live Updates: 360 candidates contesting in Phase 4 have criminal cases against them

Phase 4 Lok Sabha Election: Breakup of Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 electorate

Asaduddin Owaisi

The four-time MP from Hyderabad, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, is contesting from his family stronghold Hyderabad, which was represented by his father Salahuddin Owaisi for two decades, from 1984-2004. While the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi have fielded Mohammad Waliullah Sameer and Gaddam Srinivas Yadav from the seat, Mr Owaisi’s most-talked-about opponent is the BJP’s Kompella Madhavi Latha. 

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Of the eight West Bengal seats going to polls in the third phase is Baharampur, the fort of Congress leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. A five-time MP from the seat, Mr Chowdhury is known to hold considerable clout in the north Bengal constituency. This time, he is up against the BJP’s Nirmal Kumar Saha and Trinamool’s pick, former cricketer Yusuf Pathan.

Mahua Moitra

The firebrand Trinamool Congress leader, who was expelled as an MP last December in the cash-for-query case, is contesting again from West Bengal’s Krishnanagar, which elected her in the 2019 election. The seat has been with the Trinamool Congress since 2009.

Lok Sabha Election Phase 4 Voting Updates: Uttar Pradesh Minister Suresh Khanna casts his vote at a polling booth in Shahjahanpur.

INDIA Alliance has fielded SP’s Jyotsna Gond here. She faces BJP’s sitting MP and candidate Arun Kumar Sagar & BSP’s Dod Ram Verma. 

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh Minister Suresh Khanna casts his vote at a polling booth in Shahjahanpur.

INDIA Alliance has fielded SP’s Jyotsna Gond here. She faces BJP’s sitting MP & candidate Arun Kumar Sagar & BSP’s Dod Ram Verma. #LokSabhaElections2024pic.twitter.com/fpFLtROJ11

– ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024

Lok Sabha Election Live Updates: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Secunderabad Parliamentary constituency, G Kishan Reddy arrives at a polling booth to cast his vote.

He faces contests from Danam Nagender and BRS’ Theegulla Padma Rao. 

#WATCH | Telangana: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Secunderabad Parliamentary constituency, G Kishan Reddy arrives at a polling booth here to cast his vote. He faces contests from Danam Nagender and BRS’ Theegulla Padma Rao. #LokSabhaElections2024pic.twitter.com/N0v9anwinZ

– ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024

Lok Sabha Election Live Updates: Voting begins in 96 Lok Sabha seats across 9 states, Jammu and Kashmir in 4th phase.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Mock polling underway at polling booth no. 245 at Vivekananda Girls High School of Ichhalabad of the Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency

#WATCH | Bardhman, West Bengal: Mock polling underway at polling booth no. 245 at Vivekananda Girls High School of Ichhalabad of the Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency for #LokSabhaElections2024

BJP’s Dilip Ghosh, AITC’s Kirti Azad and Sukriti Ghoshal of CPI(M) are contesting from… pic.twitter.com/2uXWtUMa7y

– ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024

Lok Sabha Election Phase 4 Voting Updates: Mock polling underway at polling booth no. 237 of Zila Parishad Boys High School, Kodangal of Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha Constituency

#WATCH | Mahabubnagar, Telangana: Mock polling underway at polling booth no. 237 of Zila Parishad Boys High School, Kodangal of Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha Constituency for the #LokSabhaElections2024

Congress’ Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy, BJP’s DK Aruna and BRS’ Manne Srinivas Reddy… pic.twitter.com/1TfOd7KDzb

– ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024

Lok Sabha Election Live Updates: Mock poll starts at polling booth no 136 in Bhawanipatana Assembly Constituency and Kalahandi Lok Sabha Constituency.

#WATCH | Kalahandi, Odisha: Mock poll starts at polling booth no 136 in Bhawanipatana Assembly Constituency and Kalahandi Lok Sabha Constituency.

There are a total of 21 parliamentary constituencies and 147 assembly constituencies in the state. Voting will be held in 4… pic.twitter.com/gaXcqTgBNS

– ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Polling preparations are underway at the Kadapa Constituency’s Jayamahal Anganawadi Polling Booth No. 138 in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will also cast his vote from the polling booth. 

Congress’s YS Sharmila from INDIA alliance, TDP’s Chadipiralla Bhupesh Subbarami Reddy from NDA, and YSRCP’s YS Avinash Reddy are contesting elections from this seat.

YSRCP’s YS Avinash Reddy is the sitting MP from Kadapa.

#WATCH | Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh: Polling preparations are underway at the Kadapa Constituency’s Jayamahal Anganawadi Polling Booth No. 138.

Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will also cast his vote from the polling booth.

Congress’s YS Sharmila from INDIA alliance, TDP’s… pic.twitter.com/WJXUiXSXOT

– ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024

Prominent candidates in the fray are: 

• Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav
• Union minister Giriraj Singh, TMC’s firebrand leader Mohua Moitra 
• AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi
• Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
• Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan of TMC
• Andhra Pradesh Congress president YS Sharmila 

• The fourth phase of voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will take place today in 96 Lok Sabha constituencies across 10 states and Union Territories. 
• A total of 1,717 candidates are in the fray in this phase. 
• Polling will be held in all 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, all 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh, 13 in Uttar Pradesh, five in Bihar, four in Jharkhand, eight in Madhya Pradesh, 11 in Maharashtra, four in Odisha, eight in West Bengal and one in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Voting will also take place in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
• More than 19 lakh polling officials have been deployed at 1.92 lakh polling stations for the over 17.70 crore eligible voters in this round.