In 71 violence-affected blocks,DM office to accept nomination

Meanwhile,violence continued unabated in the nine districts on the penultimate day of filing the nominations for the first phase.

Two CPM candidates were abducted allegedly by Trinamool Congress cadres at Itaberia village in Tamluk,East Midnapore. Pulin Lal and Nabin Maiti were on their way to the sub-divisional office to submit their nomination papers when they were stopped allegedly by TMC supporters and whisked away. It has also been alleged that the police did not take necessary steps after the incident.

Congress supporters,meanwhile,gheraoed Kanthi Police Station in the district,protesting the arrest of a Congress worker,Uttam Barik. A TMC procession was passing the place at that time. A heated argument followed between the supporters of the two parties leading to violence. RAF and Combat Force had to be pressed in.

In Midnapore (West),a CPM candidate was beaten up,allegedly by TMC supporters in front of the Sub Divisional Officer’s office,while was going to file his nomination there. TMC leaders here,however,denied the allegations.

The body of a TMC worker,Madhai Bauri,was found today in a ditch at Narayankuri in Burdwan’s Ranigunj. The 32-year-old daily wage earner was missing since yesterday. A missing diary was also filed at Ranigunj PS in this regard. The CPM in turn alleged that TMC supporters had attacked CPM candidate Sajan Barui’s place and looted Rs 11,000 from there. Four persons from both parties have been arrested.

In South 24-Parganas,CPM candidate Sattar Mollah of Kalatalahat village at Ramnagar alleged that his house was attacked by TMC cadres this morning. He also said that his wife and son were beaten up.

DYFI leader Shanto Sarkar,too,was attacked at Arambagh,allegedly by TMC supporters. He said that a group of TMC workers stopped him as he was about to reach the SDO office and tore his nomination papers.

Till date,63,344 nominations have been filed for gram panchayats for the first phase.

Bharat Nirman ads to be off air

The SEC on Tuesday said that it has written to the Press Information Bureau asking the Central government’s publicity unit to stop the airing of Bharat Nirman advertisements. Earlier,TMC leader Mukul Roy had complained about the advertisements saying it was in violation of the moral code of conduct.