NEW DELHI, Jul 9 (NNN-PTI) – At least 15 people were killed and scores injured yesterday, during the rural body elections, locally known as panchayat polls, in India’s eastern state of West Bengal, officials said.
Reports from the state said, five deaths were recorded in Murshidabad, followed by Cooch Behar where three people were killed. Two people each were killed in East Burdwan and North Dinajpur and one person each in Malda, Nadia and South 24 Parganas districts.
Ten of those killed were workers and supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress party.
The large-scale violence marred voting at multiple political hotspots.
Among the injured, nearly two dozen people suffered bullet wounds from country-made illegal weapons. The crude bomb attacks and the use of clubs, machetes and hurling of brickbats were also witnessed between the rival groups.
Attacks on polling stations and poll malpractices were also reported.
The political parties are blaming each other for the violence.
The voting began at 7:00 a.m. local time yesterday, and over 56 million voters were eligible to vote in the elections.
Local media quoted West Bengal election commissioner as saying, a voter turnout of 66.28 percent was recorded until 5:00 p.m. local time.
According to India’s state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR), at least 600 companies of paramilitary force personnel have been deployed for the elections, along with around 70,000 state police personnel, in the poll-bound rural areas of the state.
The ruling Trinamool Congress party alleged a “colossal failure” on the part of paramilitary forces tasked with security.
Ever since the elections were announced in West Bengal on Jun 8, violent incidents and killings were reported from across the state.
The voting was conducted in a single phase and the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on Jul 11.– NNN-PTI
