6 killed, 18 injured as most violent phase of WB Panchayat polls ends

In the most violent phase of rural polling thus far, six persons were killed and 18 more were injured in the fourth phase of Panchayat elections in West Bengal on Monday.

According to reports, four people were blown off early morning while making bombs in paddy fields in two separate incidents (Satpalsa village and Raninagar village) in the Birbhum district.

Rampurhat Sub-Divisional Police officer Debasish Nandi confirmed these reports saying, " Prima facie, the two (in Satpalsa) were making bombs which went off. Their hands were also blown off."

According to reports, the Murshidabad district had recorded the highest violence today. A woman voter was killed when miscreants hurled bombs as she was leaving a polling booth at Kajisha village in Murshidabad district after casting her vote, police said. Additionally, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate's husband was allegedly shot dead in the Faridpur gram panchayat area of Jalangi (Murshidabad district). He was admitted to a local hospital at Berhampore and is reported to be in a "serious condition".

Further, six people are reported to have been injured in TMC-CPI(M) clashes in the area.State Election Commission sources said that 75 per cent average polling was recorded till five pm in the four districts of Murshidabad, Birbhum, Malda and Nadia even as people stood in queues waiting for their turn amidst the violence.