West Bengal panchayat election: Repolling in 573 booths underway
Kolkata, May 16 (IBNS): After witnessing a violence-marred panchayat poll in West Bengal couple of days ago, repolling in 573 booths across the state are underway on Wednesday, media reports said.
No violence has been reported yet on Wednesday.
Killings, bombing and booth capturing by firearms wielding political goons turned West Bengal's three-tier panchayat polls into a bloodied affair on Monday as violence claimed 18 lives, according to a local television channel.
After the conclusion of the poll, the death toll had risen to 25.
From torching to death a couple of an opposition political party to killing of innocent voters, West Bengal turned into a combat zone, leaving a trail of bodies and injured people.
The deceased workers and supporters are from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the CPI-M and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
A CPI-M worker and his wife were charred to death after their house was set on fire in South 24 Parganas, reports said.
CPI-M workers were also killed in Nandigram in East Midnapore district.
In North 24 Parganas, a CPI-M worker was killed during clashes while two others were injured.
A Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporter and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker died in South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad respectively.
While the voter turnout was reportedly 75 percent, widespread violence, including bombing and efforts of booth capturing by political goons, were reported across the state since morning.
In Cooch Behar district, 20 people were injured in a low intensity blast at a polling booth.
Violence was reported from Howrah and Bhangar in South 24 Parganas as well.
Earlier on Friday, a supporter of an independent candidate was shot dead in Bhangar area.
There were reports of violence from several other disctricts like Jalpaiguri, Malda, Nadia and West Midnapore, where at Bikalchak of Keshpur a teenaged girl was hit by an arrow.
An independent candiate supporter was shot dead in Murshidabad's Nawda.
He has been identified as Shahi Shekh, according to a TV report.
However in many places, the police acted swiftly and brought the situation under control, reports said.
The key battle in the state is expected to take place between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Results of the poll will be declared on Thursday.
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