80 per cent polling recorded till 5 pm in 8 LS seats in Bengal

Nearly 80 per cent of the 1,33,69,749 electorate exercised their franchise till 5pm in eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal on Sunday, an election official said.

"Except some incidents of disturbances in Keshpur, polling is mostly peaceful. We have sought reports from the district officials about the incidents.

"In the eight Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, around 79.93 per cent of voters have cast their ballots till 5pm," a senior official of the state CEO's office told PTI.

Tamluk seat recorded the highest voter turnout at 82.99 per cent, followed by Bishnupur (SC) at 81.90 per cent, Jhargram (ST) at 81.68 per cent, Ghatal at 80.350 per cent, Kanthi at 80.06 per cent, Purulia at 78.64 per cent, Medinipore at 78.17 per cent and Bankura at 75.68 per cent, he said.

The eight constituencies are spread across five districts.

There were reports of an attack on BJP's Ghatal candidate, former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh, when she tried to enter a polling booth in Keshpur.

Ghosh's convoy was also targeted when locals started pelting stones and hurling bombs after she tried to enter another polling station in Keshpur.

One of her security guards was injured and a convoy vehicle damaged in the stone pelting following which the security officers allegedly restored to lathicharge.

It was also alleged that a Trinamool Congress worker was injured in firing by personnel of the central forces, who were the BJP candidate.

Ghosh, however, denied the allegation.

The official said, "So far we have not received reports of any firing. We are looking into it. Our officials in the districts have been asked to send details of the incidents of attacks on Bharati Ghosh quickly."