WB Panchayat poll: 31 Dead as violence flares up on Bengal rural poll day

After the first five hours of polling till 1.30 pm for the three-tier panchayat system in West Bengal, the polling percentage has been recorded at 36.66%. Since June 8, when the polls were announced, West Bengal has been witnessing widespread witness leading to the deaths of at least 12 persons on Saturday alone.

The highest number of deaths has been reported from Murshidabad at four, followed by two each in Malda and East Burdwan districts and once each from Nadia, South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur and Cooch Behar districts. With these 12 deaths, the total death count since June 8 has increased to 31, with 19 recorded till Friday evening and 12 added since Saturday morning.

West Bengal Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday afternoon directly called up the State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha and asked him “how much more blood would quench his thirst”. Suvendu also threatened Sinha to conduct a march towards the State Election Commission after 6 pm on Saturday after the official polling time will conclude. He also threatened to conduct a march to the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence at Kalighat in South Kolkata. “We need to take out every brick from that house at Kalighat. Come what may, I am determined to continue my battle against Mamata Banerjee and bring her down from her throne,” he said.

Speaking on the poll violence in the state, security personnel alleged that despite several reminders, West Bengal State Election Commission failed to provide locations and other details of sensitive polling booths before the polls.

“We had written several letters to West Bengal State Election Commission regarding information on sensitive polling booths, but on June 7 West Bengal govt responded with only the numbers of sensitive polling booths and did not provide the locations or other details. 59,000 troops of CAPF and state armed police from 25 states were not adequately utilized in security duties,” SS Guleria, DIG BSF was quoted by ANI as saying.

According to reports, of the total 19 deaths across the state, 13 victims belonged to the ruling TMC party, while two workers each from the BJP and CPI(M) died during the pivotal three-tier panchayat polls. A Congress worker and a voter were also killed in the poll violence.

West Bengal’s State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha has pledged to address complaints of vote tampering and consider the option of re-polling based on reports from observers and returning officers.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress and other opposition leaders over “silence” on the “murder of democracy” in West Bengal.

“The declaration of panchayat polls in West Bengal is akin to the start of the murder of democracy. Beating up people, bomb blasts, and setting things afire become common occurrences,” Thakur said.

“Democracy is suppressed and killed in West Bengal. (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress leaders stoop to any extent to win elections. be it assaulting people and unleashing atrocities on women,” he added.