West Bengal: Nine killed in violence amid voting for panchayat polls

At least nine persons were killed in separate incidents of violence in West Bengal on Saturday during the panchayat polls in the state, reported PTI.

Five Trinamool Congress Party members and one worker each of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress, and the supporter of an independent candidate are those among the dead.

The panchayat polls for 73,887 seats began at 7 am.

Widespread incidents of violence has been reported from several booths. The BJP has alleged that its polling agent, Madhav Biswas, in Falimari gram panchayat of Cooch Behar was shot dead by Trinamool Congress members, reported PTI.

“TMC goons hurled a bomb at my agent and killed him,” party candidate Maya Barman told the news agency. “They also attacked me.”

BJP MLA from Cooch Behar Nikhil Ranjan Dey accused West Bengal Election Commission Rajiv Sinha of covertly supporting the Trinamool Congress and allowing violence against the Opposition, reported ANI. He also said that the BJP will take the matter to the Calcutta High Court.

#WATCH | Nikhil Ranjan Dey, BJP MLA, South Coochbehar, says, "...Our party worker Mahadeb Biswas who was a polling agent was killed early morning by TMC goons...we will see them in High Court, we won't spare Rajiva...

Read more