Centre seeks report from Bengal on panchayat poll violence

As violence spiralled in West Bengal during the panchayat polls in which at least six people were killed and 43 injured, the Centre on Monday sought a report from the state government.

A senior home ministry official said the Mamata Banerjee-led government has been told to provide a detailed report on the circumstances that led to the violence and the steps taken to restore peace and punish those involved in the violence.

More than 60,000 security personnel from West Bengal and neighbouring states were deployed for the panchayat polls.

Debunking the BJP's accusations, senior Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien tweeted, "A concocted trend here, some copy pasted tweets there. Try as you might to shame Bengal, its people and its premier, you never will. Bengal knows better. They know the losers spreading hate because losers never win."

"TMC Supremo appeals for peace. BJP state president says we will hit them so hard that you won't get people to take you to hospitals. This is the difference of attitude of two parties. so we know who wants violence and who wants peace," the Trinamool Congress tweeted.