Large-scale violence in 4th phase poll in WB, FIR against

Incidents of bombing and clashes between TMC and BJP supporters were reported in the fourth phase of polling for eight Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal on Monday, with an estimated 76.44 per cent of over 1.34 crore voters casting their ballots, officials said.

An FIR was lodged against Babul Supriyo, Union minister and BJP candidate for Asansol, following a directive by the Election Commission over entering a polling station at Barabani.

The state's Chief Electoral Officer Ariz Aftab, however, claimed that barring "sporadic incidents", the polling was, by an large, "peaceful".

"Other than some sporadic incidents, elections today were by and large peaceful. Immediate necessary action was initiated at places from where we got complaints," Aftab told reporters.

He said the polling percentage would go up as many voters were still standing in queue to exercise their franchise.

State's Additional Director General of police (Law and order) Siddhi Nath Gupta said, six FIRs were lodged during the day over incidents of violence and 145 people arrested.

Gupta said five people were injured in clashes between workers of rival political parties. All of them were undergoing treatment.

Trinamool Congress and BJP workers and supporters, including women, were seen clashing using bamboo sticks.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged central forces opened fire inside a polling booth in Birbhum. She claimed the BJP had "misused" the central forces to rig the elections.

The EC show-caused the Birbhum BJP candidate Dudh Kumar Mondal after he was seen talking over a mobile phone inside a polling booth just before casting his vote.

According to reports, Supriyo had an argument with polling officials inside a polling station in Asansol following which TMC workers attacked his vehicle parked outside. Though the rear windshield of his vehicle was smashed the singer-politician was unharmed.

Supriyo said, "I visited Barabani to witness the polling but found that voters were not being allowed to exercise their franchise. Our fight is to establish democracy ... It is shameful that I have to say this in a democratic country."