Amid reports of violence from various parts of West Bengal, the polling for the single phase panchayat elections is under way. About 11.33% votes were polled till 9 am.
Incidents of attacks on Opposition party workers, booth capturing, houses of Opposition workers being set ablaze allegedly by Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadres took place in the districts of South 24 Paraganas, North 24 Paraganas, Cooch Behar.
The TMC leadership has denied the allegations.
A senior official of the State Election Commission (SEC) told The Hindu that "so far SEC have received reports of major incidents of violence from Bhangar in South 24 Paraganas district, Dinhata in Cooch Behar district and Uttar Dinajpur district."
Clashes erupted at Polerhat II area of Bhangar in South 24 Paraganas between followers of arrested former TMC MLA Arabul Islsm and members of Committee for Protection of Land, Livelihood, Ecology and Environment (CPLLEE).
Footage aired by television channels showed TMC cadres and CPLLEE members coming to blows inside a polling booth in Dokhin Gajipur village, the stronghold of Mr.Islam.
In North 24 Paraganas' Bagdah police station area, at least 12 people were injured on Monday morning when a group of miscreants tried to capture a polling booth. Clashes erupted when locals tried to stop them.
While North 24 Paraganas district president of TMC and State's Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mallick alleged that local BJP leaders "hired goons from Bangladesh" to capture booths, State BJP leaders denied the allegation.
Clashes between TMC and Opposition party workers were also reported from Cooch Behar's Dinhata area.
