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.
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/995916746417553408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
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.
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/995949628850765824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
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.
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/995895938395750402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
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.