Sporadic violence in fifth phase of Bengal polls

Sporadic violence took place in several places in West Bengal during the fifth phase of the Assembly elections. Polls are underway in 45 seats in five districts. 78.36% of votes were polled till 5 pm.

“Barring a few stray incidents the polling has so far been peaceful,” an EC official said.

At the Deganga Assembly constituency in North 24 Paraganas district, locals alleged that the Central forces opened fire to disperse a mob. The incident took place in the Kurulgacha area. Denying the allegation an official of the Central forces said “Nothing of that sort happened here. There was no incident of firing in Deganga. Polling is going on peacefully.”

However, Election Commission (EC) sources said that “We have received video footage from the media on the Central forces opening fire to disburse villagers who have gathered near a polling booth in Kurulgacha. We have sought a report from the observer.”

Read | TMC broken, Mamata Banerjee playing politics with dead bodies: Narendra Modi

Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP workers clashed in the Shantinagar area of Bidhannagar Assembly constituency where eight persons were injured. Both sides accused each other of preventing voters from reaching the polling booths. They pelted stones at each other and were involved in a fistfight. A large contingent of Central forces rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.

The vehicle of BJP candidate from Kamarhati constituency Raju Banerjee was allegedly attacked by TMC cadres and he sustained some injuries.

Earlier in the day, a section of voters in the Kalyani Assembly seat in Nadia district staged a road blockade alleging TMC workers manhandled them when they were on their way to polling booths and stopped them from voting. Later, Central forces arrived at the spot and took them to the polling booth.

At the Minakhan Assembly seat in the North 24 Paraganas district, two TMC workers were injured after suffering from an alleged bomb attack by supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF). A BJP polling agent sustained a head injury following an alleged altercation with TMC workers in the same constituency.

A polling agent died inside a polling booth in the Kamarhati Assembly seat in North 24 Paraganas district.

Read | My phone is being tapped, will order CID probe: Mamata on audio tape

A TMC worker was injured in the Santipur Assembly constituency in Nadia when BJP workers allegedly shot at him. The local BJP leadership denied the allegation.

TMC cadres allegedly hurled bombs in the Kalyani Assembly seat injuring a BJP worker.

The TMC alleged that the Central forces were asking voters to go back without casting their votes at Santipur. EC denied the allegation. It further alleged that the BJP cadres captured a booth in Bardhaman Uttar Assembly constituency.

TMC and BJP workers clashed at Bijpur in North 24 Paraganas district accusing each other of preventing voters from going to polling booths.