Bengal Election Violence: The death toll in poll-related violence in West Bengal reached 20 on Sunday morning after a Trinamool Congress worker was stabbed to death in Malda. The incident took place in Baishnavnagar on Saturday night after the elections.
According to sources, the victim was identified as Matiur Rahman, who was an active worker of TMC. It is being told that during the incident, Matiur Rahman had come to cast his vote at the polling station. Meanwhile, some people surrounded him and stabbed him to death. The ruling TMC has blamed the opposition party Congress for the murder.
TMC worker killed in clashes in South 24 Parganas
Among those killed is Azhar Lashkar, a 62-year-old active TMC worker who was injured in a clash in Basanti. He died during treatment at SSKM Hospital late on Saturday night. According to information, 10 people were injured in a clash between TMC and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) workers at Basanti in South 24 Parganas. Azhar Lashkar, who was seriously injured, died in the hospital while he was undergoing treatment.
Violence broke out in rural areas on Saturday as soon as polling was over
Violence broke out in rural areas of Bengal as soon as polling ended on Saturday. In many places ballot boxes were smashed and in many villages bombs were hurled at rivals. The incidents of violence have triggered a bitter war of words between the ruling TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with the party demanding re-polling in several booths.
In West Bengal, all parties blamed each other for the violence, even as the BJP demanded imposition of President’s rule in the state. State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rajiv Sinha on Saturday promised to look into complaints of vote tampering and take a decision on possible re-polling at some booths after receiving reports from observers and returning officers.
