Three deaths mar phase 2 of panchayat elections in West Bengal

KOLKATA: Three people were killed in Burdwan district in the second phase of panchayat elections in West Bengal. Among the three was Sheikh Hasmat, the husband of a CPM candidate, Monowara Bibi. He was killed in a bomb attack at Jamuria in Madhudanga gram panchayat, a police source said. Another man, Rajkuma Kora, was lynched after a bomb was thrown in the same panchayat area. The third person, Kata Mullick, was killed in a bomb attack before the Hijjona panchayat office in Mangalkote area.

Despite the violence, initial estimates of polling percentage in East Midnapore, Hooghly and Burdwan at 74%. It is likely to go up as thousands of voters were seen waiting in front of several polling stations in the closing hour. CPM and Congress described Monday’s elections as a farce and alleged that the TMC had unleashed terror in all the three districts with passive support from the government that did not use the Central force effectively to instill confidence in electors. Violent incidents also taken place in Nandigram under East Midnapore district, but no death was reported from the area which had witnessed violent agitation over attempts by the previous Left Front government to acquire land for setting up a SEZ in 2007.

East Midnapore district is now under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party, Trinamool Congress’ control as her party had managed to wrest the zilla parishad from CPM during 2008 panchayat elections. Singur in Hooghly district had also witnessed a number of violent incidents during the day, but there were no murders. Both Singur and Nandigram had helped Mamata Banerjee organise very effective movement against the Marxist government over the issue of land acquisition which ultimately helped her to oust the 34-year old government in 2011. CPM, Congress and BJP apprehend more violence and deaths during the next three phases of polls to be held on July 19, 22.