Bengal violence toll rises to 17, SEC to take call on repolling at some booths

The death toll in Saturday’s violence climbed to 17 on Sunday, with the death of four people who were injured in the clashes, officials said. Among the dead 11 are workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress, two each from the CPI(M) and Congress and one from the BJP. One of those dead had no political affiliation.

Several parts of the state, meanwhile, reported clashes and incidents of arson and vandalism by political party workers. Crude bombs were recovered at some places, police officers said.

Clashes were reported from Samserganj and Raninagar in Murshidabad district. There were also allegations of attack on Congress workers and supporters in Murshidabad’s Beldanga.

Police sources said Trinamool and independent candidates clashed in Hiranandpur area of Samserganj in the morning during which crude bombs were used. It was alleged that houses of some workers and supporters of both sides were vandalised. The police later brought the situation under control.

The Congress alleged that Trinamool supporters ransacked and vandalised houses of its party workers and supporters in Beldanga through the night. In protest, the Congress blocked National Highway 34 in front of Beldanga police station around 10 am. Baharampur SP Surinder Singh said, “Overall situation is under control.’”

On the other hand, there were allegations that Congress workers entered the houses of Trinamool workers in Chakranpara village of Raninagar police station and assaulted them. Four injured Trinamool workers were taken to the local Godhanpara primary health center. The condition of one of them was critical, the Trinamool said. A police picket was set up in the village. The Congress, however, denied the Trinamool’s allegations.

Meanwhile, alleging that they were not allowed to vote, BJP workers blocked National Highway 31 in Rampur area of North Dinajpur district. The BJP claimed that Trinamool workers hijacked the booths and indulged in rigging. However, the Trinamool denied the allegations.

State BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar, who went to Rampur on Sunday, said, “The situation here is terrible. Common people were not allowed to vote. We have requested the police to set up pickets in the area.”

Trinamool North Dinajpur district president Kanhaiyalal Aggarwal said, “This incident has nothing to do with politics. This mess is about local issues.”

Sources meanwhile identified the four who died on Sunday as Abu Salem Khan (48), Matiur Rahman (45), Noor Amin Minya and Azhar Lashkar. While Noor Amin was a Trinamool candidate, the other three were workers of the party.

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Violence broke out early on Saturday morning in Pirgacha panchayat of North 24 Parganas, just hours before voting was set to begin for the Panchayat polls. One person in critical condition after allegedly being beaten up by TMC workers on Friday night.

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Mohammad Abdullah, who is currently in a critical condition is a supporter of an independent candidate.

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Mohammad Abdullah's wife staged a protest by locking up the police station in Kadambagachi.

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The Independent candidate's camp office was vandalised, following which, high tension prevailed in the area.

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A brawl broke out between villagers, the police and central forces in Pirgacha panchayat of North 24 Parganas.

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In the run-up to the polls, crude bombs, stone-pelting, threats, and intimidation have led to around 20 deaths and the deployment of central forces throughout the state.

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Panchayat booth in Jirangacha, SSK, Bhangar-II.

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West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023.

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Panchayat polling underway at Chhota Jagulia Gram Panchayat, Barasat Block 1.

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Governor CV Bose came to the scene of Pirgacha.

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West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023.

Abu Salem was injured in a clash in Kultali, South 24 Parganas, towards the end of the polling process on Saturday. He had come from a neighboring village on hearing allegations that BJP workers were occupying a booth. When he tried to intervene, he was assaulted and then shot at, his party workers alleged.

The BJP countered the allegations, saying it was the Trinamool that was occupying the booths, and the villagers were protesting when the incident took place. It alleged that several people, including a woman candidate of a BJP zilla parishad, were injured in this incident.

In Bhagbanpur area of Malda’s Vaishnavnagar, Matiur Rahman suffered serious injuries when Congress supporters allegedly attacked him when he tried to vote. At least six people were injured in the fight in front of the polling station. Rahman died on Sunday.

Trinamool candidate for Gangarampur panchayat samiti Noor Amin, who was admitted to a hospital in the South Dinajpur district on Saturday, also died of bullet injuries. He was attacked by a group of people, who allegedly tried to loot ballot boxes after polling in the evening. Another TMC worker, Azhar Lashkar, who was injured during violence in South Dinajpur’s Basanti area, died at at the state-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.