The fifth and final phase of Bengal’s panchayat elections on Thursday came to an end resembling the earlier rounds in terms of violence, bloodshed and murder.
There were two deaths, scores of injuries including incidents of chopped hand amid sporadic incidents of clashes between rival political parties.
Notwithstanding, there was no dearth in poling percentage till reports last came in at 5 pm when many voters were still standing in queues. While North Dinajpur reported 62 per cent polling, the polling percentage at South Dinajpur was 78 per cent. Both Coochbehar and Jalpaiguri reported 71 per cent polling till 5 pm.
Even as clash-ridden fifth round came to an end maximum violence was reported from North Dinajpur a stronghold of Union Minister Deepa Dasmunshi and Coochbehar districts. A CPI(M) supporter Abdul Aziz was allegedly hacked to death by Trinamool men at Barabilla village in the district.
At Itahar in the same district Trinamool men allegedly chopped off the fingers of one Pintu Das and in the same area they sheared off the right hand of Sirajul Haq for daring to vote in favour of the Opposition candidates.
In Jalpaiguri, Marxist MP Mahendra Roy was denied entry into the polling station by the Trinamool supporters “who had captured the booth and were rigging the polls”. He had formally launched a complaint with the State Election Commission.
A voter died of his illness after he was forced to queue up at the booth by the Trinamool supporters, his wife said.
Seven people were grievously hurt in a clash in South Dinajpur and had been hospitalised, sources said adding the situation at Coochbehar the district bordering Assam was no different and about 50 booths had been captured and many Opposition candidates were beaten up and injured.
Former Bengal Minister Srikumar Mukherjee said, “Though incidents of violence had been reported earlier from South Bengal such thing was unprecedented in the North. But this time even North Bengal saw extreme violence where even the policemen were beaten up.” At Saheb Bagan in Jalpaiguri the CRPF had to resort to firing but no one was injured, police said.
About 65 lakh voters took part in the final phase where more than 28,000 candidates from Congress, Trinamool, left and Adivasi Vikash Parishad and independents were in the fray. Counting would take place on July 29.