The polling for the single phase panchayat elections in West Bengal is underway on Monday amidst violence created by different political groups.
According to ANI, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] worker and his wife were charred to death after their house in North 24 Parganas was torched last night, CPI (M) alleges Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers were behind the attack.
The BJP also accused the ruling TMC of letting loose a reign of terror in several parts of the North 24 Parganas 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.
Twenty people were injured in a clash which broke out between two groups in Cooch Behar. The injured were taken to MJN hospital for treatment. “We went there to vote but people belonging to TMC attacked us with sticks,” locals said.
In Bilkanda, BJP candidate was severely injured after he was attacked with a knife, allegedly by TMC workers. He is presently undergoing treatment, ANI reported.
In Bhangar, the road was blocked by locals as locals alleged that TMC workers were capturing the booth, ANI said.
Alleged TMC workers barred voters from entering Booth No. 14/79 in Birpara.
According to agencies, on being identified, BJP supporter Sujit Kumar Das was slapped by West Bengal Minister Rabindra Nath Ghosh at Cooch Behar’s booth no. 8/12 in presence of police.
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 told PTI.