5 killed in post-poll violence in Bengal

According to reports reaching the state capital, five persons belonging to the CPM were killed and dozens injured in group political clashes. These clashes have broken out in districts like Bankura, West Midnapore, Howrah and South 24 Parganas.

In Bankura,  a local CPM leader was lynched and a party worker beaten up by villagers on Sunday. Alleging that he was responsible for atrocities on them, residents of Saltore village dragged CPM zonal committee member Ajit Lohar out of his house and beat him to death, reports quoting Bankura Superintendent  of Police Pranab Kumar said.

CPM worker Samir Nag was also beaten up by the mob and was rushed to a hospital. In neighbouring West Mid apore district, prohibitory orders have been clamped in some areas after CPM zonal committee member Jiten Nandi was lynched and three others beaten up by locals at Maita village on Saturday.  Prohibitory orders were imposed in the areas under Goaltore and Garbeta police stations, District Magistrate Surinder Gupta said.

A CPM supporter was killed in a clash between two groups at Moukhali in Canning on Saturday night. The party claimed that the deceased was killed by Trinamool-backed goons, while Trinamool Congress said it was a fall out of an internal feud of CPM. In Bhangar, a Trinamool supporter was shot dead when he was returning home on Saturday night. The party said the CPM was behind the murder. But the CPM denied the charge and demanded an investigation by police.

Trinamool leader was shot dead on Saturday at Behrampore in Murshidabad district. The party blamed  the CPM cadres for the murder.

Meanwhile, police said villagers in West Midnapore district handed over to police 20 illegal firearms and 10 people, who they alleged had kept the weapons. The villagers claimed that they had seized the weapons from CPM cadres.

Unofficial sources said villagers were carrying out an ‘operation’ to seize illegal arms from CPM cadres at Goaltore, Garbeta, Chandrakona, Keshpur and Daton areas. Mamata Banerjee  cancelled the historic Brigade Parade Ground as the likely venue for the swearing-in ceremony of her new ministry, apprehending violence. “From a minor spark, serious trouble could erupt which is why she has cancelled it and shifted the swearing-in to Raj Bhavan,”  a source said.

CPM delegation calls on Governor
A delegation of Left Front leaders called on Governor M K Narayanan on Monday and sought his intervention in ending the “reign of terror unleashed by the Trinamool Congress on Left activists and organisations.”

“We have given the Governor a CD of the atrocities being committed by the Trinamool Congress and requested him to take action within 48 hours. He has assured us he will do so,” CPM Central Committee member Mohammad Salim said.