The West Bengal Panchayat polls are marked by incidents of extreme violence, in which some people have been killed and several others have been injured
According to an ANI report, a Trinamool Congress worker (TMC) named Arif Gazi has been shot dead in Kultali area of South 24 Parganas district in poll-related violence. Some journalists have been attacked allegedly by TMC workers during a violence after booth capturing in West Bengal’s Birpara town.
#WestBengal: Five local journalists injured after violence, following booth capturing in Birpara, allegedly by TMC workers. #PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/qv18fyEAhy
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018
In Murshidabad town, ballot papers were thrown in a pond after a clash between TMC and opposition parties. In some booths in Murshidabad, ballot boxes were looted at gunpoint by unidentified people.
#WATCH Ballot box being retrieved from a pond in West Bengal’s Sonadangi. #PanchayatPolls pic.twitter.com/vDf3dUvtKI
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018
Earlier, State Minister Rabindranath Ghosh was caught on camera slapping a BJP supporter. BJP supporter Sujit Kumar Das was slapped by Ghosh at Cooch Behar’s booth 8/12 in the presence of police. According to ABP Ananda, the person who was subjected to vandalism was arrested by the police rather than the minister.
Similarly, a BJP candidate was attacked allegedly by TMC workers earlier today in Bilkanda. According to ANI, More than 20 people have injured and 5 people have lost life due to the ongoing clashes in Bengal.
#Visuals from #WestBengal: BJP supporter in Bilkanda severely injured after being attacked with a knife, allegedly by TMC workers. He is presently undergoing treatment. #PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/anRn2uSdQG
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018
Interestingly, the elections to Panchayats in Bengal are being held after a long battle in the Kolkatta High Court and Supreme Court involving the State Election Commission, Trinamool Congress and the opposition parties.
