Two Congress supporters were killed and one critically injured on Saturday morning in Murshidabad district as violence marred polling in three municipal corporations and gram panchayats in West Bengal.
Incadul Mondal (26) and Futkar Mondal (27) were killed when bombs were hurled allegedly by ruling Trinamool Congress supporters at Hariharpara in Murshidabad, where the bypoll to Patharghata gram panchayat is being held. Khaju Mondal (25) was rushed to Murshidabad Medical College with severe injuries sustained in the attack.
“Trinamool supporters hurled the bombs killing our men,” said Ashoke Das, Congress spokesperson in Murshidabad.
Elsewhere, violence and intimidation were reported from Asansol Municipal Corporation (in Burdwan district) and Salt Lake-Rajarhat area, where polls are being held for the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation.
“Trinamool supporters captured booths in the presence of the police who were mere spectators. Ruling party-backed goons were openly brandishing swords and lathis on the streets intimidating voters,” said CPI(M) leader and former minister Bangsagopal Chowdhury.
Reports said Trinamool workers from different districts arrived in these areas to help the ruling party conduct the elections.
Salt Lake, which borders Kolkata, witnessed strange scenes were in the morning. Hindustan Times reporters visiting the Administrative Training Institute polling station at 10:30am, found the doors of the booth closed with no voters waiting outside.
A few minutes later a youth and a woman walked out of the booth, claiming they have cast their votes and displaying the ink mark on their fingers. But when asked to pose with their identity cards, they said the cards were not with them.
“Ruling party thugs are intimidating voters in Salt Lake. The booths have been captured since morning, and the policemen standing guard are conveniently looking the other way,” said Mitali Mitra, the BJP candidate in ward 30 of Salt Lake.