After large scale violence and bloodshed during panchayat election in West Bengal on Monday in which 15 people were killed, re-polling was ordered in 572 booths on Wednesday. There was violence during the elections on the re-polling day as well in several parts of the state.
The violence in the state on panchayat led Prime Minister Narendra Modi call it a “murder of democracy”.
Re-poll was held in 19 districts out of 20 districts – 63 booths of Murshidabad, 52 in Coochbehar, 28 in West Midnapore and 10 in Hooghly. Booth capturing, looting ballot boxes and attacks on opposition parties were reported from several parts of the state on this day too.
One person was killed and four left injured in a violent clash between CPM and independent supporters in Islampur area of Uttar Dinajpur district.
In Farakka of Mushidabad, two persons were injured when alleged Trinamool Congress supporters hurled bombs at the voters. BJP alleged that Trinamool men did not allow their polling agents to enter booths in the entire district. Police seized firearms and ammunition in Basanti area of South Paragnas and in Amdanga area of North 24 Parganas district. Some tin jackets to shield against pellet attacks were also recovered.
In Ratua area of Malda District, Trinamool men allegedly looted a ballot box around 8 am. In Raignj area of Uttar Dinajpur, poll-officials staged a protest demanding fair investigation into the mysterious death of a presiding officer Rajkumar Roy whose body was found yesterday after he went missing on Monday. However, police said it was an unnatural death.
Earlier, the Central government sought reports from the state government on violence on poll-day. But the Centre was unhappy over the report filed by the state today terming it as “incomplete and unclear” and sought a further report from the state Chief Secretary Malay De.
