Two killed, several injured in WB panchayat elections

The husband of a CPI(M) candidate was among two persons killed today and several others injured in violence during the second phase of panchayat elections in three West Bengal districts where 30 per cent polling was recorded till noon.
"Two persons were killed in Burdwan district. Mohammed Sheikh Hasmat was killed in a bomb attack and another was lynched by a mob after he threw a bomb," State Election Commission secretary Tapas Ray told PTI.
Hasmat was the husband of Monowara Bibi, a CPI(M) candidate of Madhudanga gram phanchayat in Burdwan district.
In another incident, CPI(M) candidate Siddhartha Banerjee for Panuria gram panchayat in the same district was injured after being beaten up allegedly by ruling Trinamool Congress supporters, police sources said.

A report from East Midnapore district quoting police sources, said that a bomb was hurled at booth no 29/1 at Nandigram after a clash between ruling Trinamool Congress and Congress workers.
A Congress worker was injured in the clash.

At booth nos 145 and 146 in Mahisadal, there was a scuffle between TMC and CPI(M) supporters. There were reports of booth jamming at booths 45,46,47,48 at Moyna after which the police intervened.
At Patashpur, the house of an agent of a CPI(M) candidate of booth no 34 was ransacked last night.
Incidents of violence and clashes between Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) supporters were also reported from Hooghly district.

An average 30 per cent polling was recorded till noon in the three districts -- East Midnapore, in which Nandigram falls and Singur in Hooghly, besides Burdwan, State Election Commission sources said.