Four more die in continuing panchayat poll violence

Poll violence continued today in trouble-torn Murshidabad and Birbhum districts, a day after panchayat election was held there, leaving four persons dead.

Two Congress workers and another CPI-M worker were killed in sporadic incidents of violence in Murshidabad district while the father of an Independent candidate succumbed to his injuries in Birbhum district.

The police said two Congress workers were killed this morning at Ranitala in the district

Pairuddin Sheikh (33), a Congress worker, was shot dead this morning when he was leaving his residence at Lakshmi Narayanpur village in the Ranitala police station area.

Another Congress worker Azizul Sheikh (65) was hacked and critically injured when he was going to his farmland at Natungram under Ranitala police station. He died on way to hospital, the police said.

In another incident, a CPI-M cadre Phatik Sheikh died of splinter injury when another gang hurled bombs at him at Sankopara in the Farakka police station area.

Local Congress leader and Minister of State for Railways Adhir Chowdhury alleged that their workers had been killed with the help of Trinamool Congress, the CPI-M and police.

"They have joined hands to kill Congress workers. How can the CPI-M which has been decimated in the state kill our workers?" he wondered.

CPI-M leader Mriganka Bhattacharya blamed goons of the Congress for the killing of their cadre.

"So far, 11 CPI-M supporters and cadre have been killed by Congress goons in the district since the panchayat vote was declared," he said.

Sagar Ghosh (70), the father of an Independent candidate who was shot and seriously injured by unknown gunmen near Bolpur in nearby Birbhum district, died today.

Ghosh's son Hriday Ghosh was an Independent candidate in Kasba Gram Panchayat.

Senior Ghosh was attacked at his home in Kasba yesterday and was rushed to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital where he died today.

Yesterday six persons had died in poll violence during the fourth phase of panchayat election. While four persons lost their lives in Birbhum district, one each was killed in Murshidabad and Malda district.

So far 20 persons have died in poll related violence.

The fifth and last phase of the rural poll is scheduled for July 25.