West Bengal: 4 shot dead as violent clashes erupt between TMC, BJP workers; EC seeks report

By Team Newsable | First Published Apr 10, 2021, 12:15 PM IST

The incident led to violence in the area as bombs were hurled, prompting central forces to baton-charge to bring the situation under control, police said.

Four people have been shot dead in Bengal's Cooch Behar after the BJP and Trinamool Congress workers clashed amid polling.

PTI quoting sources said that the CISF allegedly opened fire after coming under attack in Sitalkuchi in Bengal's Cooch Behar district.

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Also, a first-time voter was allegedly shot dead on Saturday in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, where 33.98% polling was recorded till 10.30 am in the fourth phase of assembly elections amid sporadic incidents of violence, officials said.

The Election Commission has sought a report in the incident.

As polling for the fourth phase of the West Bengal elections began at 7 today, tension gripped polling booth number 285 in Sitalkuchi of Cooch Behar as bombs were hurled. Some groups allegedly opened fire when the police recovered several crude bombs from the area. The police had to resort to lathicharge to defuse tensions.

Voting is underway with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols in 44 constituencies, including nine seats in Howrah, 11 in South 24 Parganas, five in Alipurduar, nine in Cooch Behar and 10 in Hooghly, they said.

The culprits, who are yet to be identified, managed to flee, the officials said.

Both the TMC and BJP claimed that Barman belonged to their party, but his family members said he was an activist of the saffron party.

"We have received information about a person being shot outside a polling booth in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar. We have sought a report from the micro observer," an Election Commission official said.

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