CPI(M) worker killed in clashes as West Bengal votes in Assembly polls

A 35-year-old CPI(M) supporter was killed on Thursday and his body was found lying outside a polling booth at Shibapara area under Domkal Assembly seat in Murshidabad district where polling for the third phase is underway.

CPI(M) candidate and former minister Anisur Rahman said that the man identified as Tahidur Islam was killed when bombs were hurled outside the polling booth.

Murshidabad Superintendent of police C Sudhakar, however, said the murder was not related to polls.

Tahidur was stabbed somewhere else and his body was dumped near the booth, the SP said. Rahman also alleged jamming of booths by Trinamool Congress supporters.

Congress candidate of Hariharpara Assembly seat in the same district Mir Alam Gir alleged that two party supporters were beaten up allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers at Hosseinpur.

Trinamool Congress, however, denied the charges. Polling is being held in 22 Assembly constituencies of the district out of the total 62 seats, where polling is underway.

In Burdwan district where third phase Assembly election is on in 16 seats, four persons were injured in separate incidents in polling booths under Ketugram Assembly constituency.

The ear of a CPI(M) worker identified as Seltu Sheikh was slashed and leg of another CPI(M) man was fractured after an altercation led to a scuffle in front of booth no 78. Both the injured were rushed to Ketugram Block Primary Health Centre.

District returning officer Soumitra Mohan said four persons have been arrested in this connection.

In another incident, two CPI(M) workers were injured at booth no 48 under Ketugram Assembly seat when bombs were allegedly hurled. The injured were taken to Ketugram Block Primary Health Centre.

While CPI(M) alleged that Trinamool Congress supporters were involved in the incident, the latter denied the charge.

In a separate incident, Central Forces obstructed Trinamool Congress candidate in Purbasthali Uttar seat of the district, Tapan Chattopadhyay, from entering booth no 20 due to a "communication gap". He was later allowed to enter after he showed valid papers.

Two EVM machines were replaced after it started malfunctioning at a polling booth under ward no 3 of Katwa Assembly seat.

Polling was delayed by 45 minutes as a result of this, district election official said.