At least 10 people have been killed in poll-related violence even as voting continues in West Bengal panchayat election. A CPM worker and his wife were killed in 24 South Parganas when suspected Trinamool Congress supporters set their house on fire. In North 24 Parganas, another CPM worker was killed in a blast during clashes while two others were injured. While a Trinamool Congress supporter died after being shot in Kuktuli in South 24 Parganas district, another succumbed to injuries in Nadia’s Nakashipara. A Trinamool Congress student leader was allegedly lynched to death by villagers for ‘capturing’ a booth in Nadia district’s Shantipur area. A BJP worker was killed in a bombing in Murshidabad. TMC minister Rabindranath Ghosh has been sent a showcause notice by the State Election Commission for slapping a BJP poll agent in Natabari. Around 41.51% turnout was recorded till 1pm. The election is being held after weeks of protracted legal battles and is the last major poll in the state before next year’s Lok Sabha elections.
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Within less than two hours after the polling began, the State Election Commission has received complains of violence from at least four districts from different parts the state and has asked the police to take action, SEC officials said. The SEC is conducting the panchayat election.
Violence broke out in North 24 Parganas, Burdwan, Coochbehar and South 24 Parganas districts. In North 24 Parganas, the BJP accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of letting loose a reign of terror in several parts of the district, especially in Amdanga area. A few people were injured when clashes broke out between two groups, SEC sources said.
Senior minister Jyotipriyo Mullick denied the involvement of the TMC in the incident and accused BJP of terrorising the voters. In Dinhata area of Coochbehar district in North Bengal, a few voters were injured after clashes broke out between two groups outside a polling station, the sources said.
The voters later on lodged a police complaint. Violence was reported in Burdwan districts too. The opposition CPI(M) and BJP had accused the TMC of terrorizing voters and hurling bombs outside polling stations. The TMC has termed the allegations as baseless.
After a protracted legal battle in the Kolkata High Court and the Supreme Court involving the Sec, the TMC and the opposition parties, the three-tier panchayat polls in is being held in the state.
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