Several people were killed in election-related violence in West Bengal as voting was underway on Saturday for the three-tier panchayat polls in the state, officials said. The polling started at 7 am in 73,887 seats in the rural areas of the state with 5.67 crore people deciding the fate of around 2.06 lakh candidates, they said.
BJP polling agent Madhab Biswas was allegedly killed in Falimari gram panchayat in Coochbehar district, they said.
The BJP alleged that when Biswas tried to enter the polling booth he was stopped by TMC supporters, and as the situation escalated, they killed him. The TMC denied the allegations.
The supporter of an Independent candidate died in Kadambagachi area in North 24 Paraganas district after he was beaten up overnight, police said. The deceased was identified as 41-year-old Abdullah. He died while undergoing treatment at a local hospital in the morning, Superintendent of Police Bhaskar Mukherjee said.
Protesting against the killing, locals blocked the Taki Road in the early hours but they were removed by the police.
A TMC worker was killed in Murshidabad district’s Kapasdanga area overnight in poll-related violence. The deceased was identified as Babar Ali, officials said. The ruling TMC said that two of its workers were killed in Rejinagar and Khargram in Murshidabad district, and another person in Tufanganj in Coochbehar district.
“The polling started peacefully, but Congress, BJP and CPI(M) are attacking TMC workers since last night. Three of our workers have died in Rejinagar, Tufanganj and Khargram. And, two of our workers were injured in Domkal. Where are the central forces?” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh asked.
The brother of a TMC leader was killed in a clash with Congress supporters in Malda district, police said.
The incident happened in Jisharattola in Manikchak police station area. The deceased was identified as Malek Sheikh, they said.
The TMC alleged that the husband of one of its candidates was shot at in Nadia district’s Narayanpur area by CPI(M) supporters, a charge denied by the opposition party. Source: PTI