West Bengal way ahead of others in voter enthusiasm

Kolkata: The fourth round of polling across eight constituencies of south-central West Bengal saw sporadic incidents of violence on Monday, although the state led other regions of the country in voter participation.

Several people, including three CISF personnel in charge of the security of Dilip Ghosh, BJP's Bardhaman-Durgapur candidate, and a Trinamool worker, were injured in Monteswar and Kalna Gate areas, respectively, of Purba Bardhaman district. Two vehicles carrying Ghosh's security personnel were also vandalised.

Separately, a Trinamool worker in Purba Bardhaman's Ketugram, which is part of the Bolpur Lok Sabha seat in Birbhum district, was reportedly murdered on Sunday night.


Trinamool and BJP workers were caught in a scuffle in Monteswar in the afternoon. Stones were pelted at Ghosh's vehicle while some cars belonging to newsmen covering the polls were also damaged.

Ghosh was reportedly heckled as he reached Manteswar where his party's polling agent was attacked and not allowed to enter the booth. Ghosh was reportedly manhandled while he was also seen pushing a Trinamool worker shouting "Go Back" slogans.

Election Commission of India has sought an Action Taken Report. "Our polling agent was not allowed to sit in the booth and he was beaten up. When I got the information, I came but they have gheraoed me," Ghosh said.

BJP's chief spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya said: "Our candidate's vehicle was vandalised. In booth No 56, the BJP agent's face was punched and the agent received injuries."

"Central forces accompanying Dilip Ghosh attacked common people. One person got a serious injury in his eye and may lose his vision," Trinamool leader Santanu Sen said.