Bengal polls: At least four shot dead allegedly by CAPF in Cooch Behar, ECI seeks report

Locals alleged that during a verbal altercation, few CAPF jawans suddenly shot multiple bullets that left at least four persons killed.

The TMC claimed that all four persons killed were its supporters and went to cast their votes.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought a report to know in which condition the CAPF had to fire bullets.

Earlier in morning, an 18-year-old youth, identified as Ananda Barman, was shot dead outside polling booth no. 285 at Pathantuli Shalbari area under the same assembly constituency when he was going to cast his life's first vote.

BJP leaders claimed that the teenager belonged to a BJP-supporter family and was shot dead by TMC men, though local TMC leadership denied their involvement in the incident.

ECI is examining this matter too.

Sources in the CISF told IBNS, "After being informed that villages were being obstructed by miscreants from casting their votes, additional forces of CISF as Quick Response Team (QRT) were deployed to the scene. Hundreds of local villagers had gheraoed the CISF personnel and started demonstrating.

"Soon the situation turned violent as miscreants from the gathering of local villagers attacked CISF personnel and attempted to snatch their rifles. CISF had to fire bullets in self-defense. We will be sending a detailed report of the incident to the ECI shortly."

Voting has been adjourned in polling Booth no. 126 at Jorepatki under Sitalkuchi AC in Cooch Behar.

Protesting against the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "It is shameful to see the shooting has been justified as self-defense. I urge all people to take revenge for the shooting by casting votes in favour of the TMC through democratic means."

Mamata, who heads the TMC, will visit Cooch Behar on Sunday, she announced from a rally in Bongaon.