Zilla Parishad candidate found hanging

A Jharkhand Disam Party candidate for Zilla Parishad election was found hanging at her home in Gajol area of Malda district, police said today.

Family members of Kankana Bala (22) suspected that she committed suicide yesterday following threats by some political party.

Bala was a college student and an ICDS worker, police said.

She had filed her nomination for the Malda Zilla Parishad in the three-tier panchayat election.

Police said they started an investigation and seized her mobile phone to probe the threat angle.

There had been allegations that candidates backed by opposition parties were being threatened and prevented from filing nominations for panchayat polls.

The Calcutta High Court yesterday directed the State Election Commission to reschedule the dates for panchayat election process and accordingly conduct the polls.