Round two of Bengal panchayat poll begins with clashes

Wed, May 14 11:41 AM

Kolkata, May 14 (IANS) The second phase of West Bengal's panchayat polls began on a violent note Wednesday with clashes between the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Trinamul Congress being reported from several places.

Five people were injured when CPI-M and Trinamul Congress workers hurled crude bombs at each other in Panchla area of Howrah, said West Bengal police inspector-general (law and order) Raj Kanojia. He said Singur, the focus of protests against land acquisition for the Tata Motors small car project, was also peaceful. There were unconfirmed reports of similar clashes in Basanti town in South 24 Parganas. The Trinamul Congress also alleged that CPI-M supporters had beaten up their agent at Gopalnagar in South 24 Parganas and jammed the booth at Deulti in Howrah. There were also minor clashes between the CPI-M and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) at Canning sub-division of South 24 Parganas, and between the CPI-M and the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) at Baruipur sub-division of South 24 Parganas, police sources said. There are over 3,800 polling booths in the five districts of Purulia, West and East Midnapore, Bardhaman and Bankura that voted Wednesday. The third round of polling will take place May 18. Counting will be on May 21.

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