32 Murders, Bombings, Widespread Destruction — Bengal's Bloody Trail Of Panchayat Polls: Ground Report

As many as 32 persons had been slain since the panchayat elections were announced on June 8, with more than 60% of the overall fatalities belonging to the TMC. 

West Bengal's rural elections came to a deadly conclusion on Saturday when 12 people died, explosives detonated, and all parties accused one another of using coercive measures to get votes. So far, thirteen individuals have been killed in the key three-tier panchayat elections since midnight, including eight from the governing TMC and one worker from each of the BJP, CPI(M), Congress, ISF, and other. As many as 32 persons had been slain since the panchayat elections were announced on June 8, with more than 60% of the overall fatalities belonging to the TMC. 

This year's panchyat polls featured instances of ballot boxes being stolen and set ablaze, as well as popular outrage directed at political workers.

Murshidabad, Nadia, and Cooch Behar districts were among the flashpoints, as were areas in South 24 Parganas like as Bhangar and Purba Medinipur's Nandigram. 

Officials reported a confrontation between TMC and Congress members in Uttar Dinajpur's Goalpokhar killed the spouse of TMC Panchayat leader Shanshah. Overnight violence also murdered a TMC worker in Murshidabad district's Kapasdanga region. Officials identified the deceased as Babar Ali. Another TMC employee was slain in the Khargram region of the district. The TMC further claimed that Ganesh Sarkar, a booth committee member of Tufanganj 2 panchayat samiti in Cooch Behar, was slain in a BJP attack. According to authorities, the brother of a TMC leader was slain in a scuffle with Congress supporters in Malda district. The TMC also claimed that one of its members was murdered in Nadia's Chapra, PTI reported.

In the district's Haringhata neighbourhood, an ISF worker was murdered in a battle with the TMC. Saidul Seikh, 48, was recognised as the victim by authorities.

A 38-year-old guy was slain in Basanti, South 24 Parganas district. According to authorities, the event occurred in the Fulmalancha neighbourhood, and the dead was named as Anisur, PTI reported.

In election-related violence, a Congress worker was allegedly slain in Murshidabad's Rejinagar police station area. Yasmin Sk was his given name.

Rajibul Hoque, a CPI(M) worker, was allegedly gravely injured in an attack by TMC supporters in Purba Bardhaman district's Aushgram 2 block. He died early in the morning while being treated at a hospital.

The voting began at 7 a.m. in 73,887 seats in the state's rural districts, with 5.67 crore voters choosing the destiny of almost 2.06 lakh candidates. Officials reported a 50.52 percent voter turnout up to 3 p.m.

As the day progressed, political parties levelled accusations and counter-accusations. "Shocking incidents are being reported since last night. BJP, CPI(M) and Congress had colluded, demanding central forces. Where are they deployed? TMC workers are being murdered. Where are the central forces?" state minister Sashi Panja asked, PTI reported.

Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP's state assembly leader, requested President's Rule and vowed to lead a march to Kalighat, where chief minister Mamata Banerjee lives, to protest the violence in the panchayat polls. Speaking with media, Adhikari stated: "The governor made the biggest mistake by appointing Rajiva Sinja...It is 3 pm & over 15 people have died, they were killed by TMC goons...Centre should intervene with either Article 355 or 356...we want action from custodian of constitution." 

TMC, on the other hand, said in a statement that if the party was orchestrating the violence, "why would their own workers be targeted and killed?"

(With Inputs From PTI)