Murshidabad (WB): A 52-year-old man, claimed to be a Congress activist, was hacked to death outside a booth during polling in Murshidabad Lok Sabha constituency, a senior state police officer said.
Two other persons were also injured in the attack which, the Congress alleged, was perpetrated by workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress.
“One person was killed in poll violence in Murshidabad,” ADG (Law and Order) Siddihathnath Gupta told this agency.
The victim, identified as Tiyarul Sheikh, went to vote at a booth in Baligram Primary School under Bhagwangola police station limits when a group of men attacked him with sharp weapons following an altercation, police sources said.
When taken to hospital, he was declared brought dead.
“Two other persons were also injured in the attack.
They were admitted to hospital,” the sources said.
The Election Commission sought a report from the Murshidabad district magistrate, a senior official said.
Congress candidate of Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat, Abu Hena, claimed, “Tiyarul was our party worker. TMC goons killed him when he went to cast his vote. The TMC men were indulged in malpractices inside the booth when Tiyarul reached there. There was an altercation between them following which he was attacked.”
Meanwhile, a polling agent, identified as Babulal Murmu, has been found dead at his house in Buniadpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, where polling was on for the Balurghat constituency.
Bombs were reportedly hurled outside a booth in Balurghat seat of West Bengal, leading to commotion, he said, adding, central forces also allegedly baton charged a mob in Suti area of Jangipur.
The electoral battle in West Bengal for the third phase features sitting MPs and TMC candidates – Arpita Ghosh from Balurghat and Mausam Benazir Noor from Maldaha Uttar – Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee’s son Abhijit from Jangipur and BJP’s Humayun Kabir.
PTI
