Cooch Behar violence mars 4th phase voting in Bengal: Top developments

NEW DELHI: Polling for the fourth phase of the tightly-contested West Bengal assembly elections ended on Saturday evening with a voter turnout of 76.16%.
However, voting was marred by violence in Cooch Behar in which four people were killed as central forces opened fire due to alleged attack from locals.

Here are the top developments of the day:
Four killed as central forces open fire after coming under attack
Four people were killed as central forces allegedly opened fire after coming under attack from locals, who "attempted to snatch their rifles", in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district on Saturday, police said.

The incident took place in Sitalkuchi area when voting was underway, a senior district police officer said.
Clashes broke out between TMC and BJP activists in Mathabhanga area of Sitalkuchi while voting was underway, a source said.
Meanwhile, an 18-year-old voter, Ananda Barman, was allegedly gunned down by miscreants outside booth number 85 in Pathantuli area after clashes broke out between activists of the ruling TMC and the BJP.
The culprits, who are yet to be identified, managed to flee, the officials said.
EC orders suspension of polls at polling station number 126 in Sitalkuchi
The Election Commission (EC) ordered suspension of polls at polling station number 126 in the Sitalkuchi assembly constituency of West Bengal amid violence.
A spokesperson of the poll panel said the decision was based on an interim report filed by special observers.
A repoll would be ordered in the coming days in accordance with the laid-down procedure, a source said.
EC defends CISF action, bans entry of political leaders in Cooch Behar
Later in the day, the Election Commission (EC) strongly defended the CISF action and said that the recourse to open fire by security personnel became absolutely necessary in order to save lives of voters lined up at the polling booth, those of other polling personnel and their own lives.
It said the mob had tried to snatch their weapons.
The poll panel has also banned the entry of political leaders from any national, state, or other party into Cooch Behar for the next 72 hours with immediate effect.
"The Election Commission of India further directs that the silence period for phase 5 (i.e. for polls scheduled on April 17) shall be extended to 72 hours and no campaigning shall be permitted during 72 hours before the close of the poll in order to ensure the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections," an EC order said.
Amid the incidents of violence, the EC has also directed the Union home ministry to deploy 71 additional companies of Central Armed Police forces (CAPFs) in the state for conducting the remaining four phases of polls.
Mamata questions 'self-defence' version of central forces, orders CID probe
The violence also triggered a massive political storm between the ruling TMC and rival BJ
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that the firing in Cooch Behar was a part of a larger conspiracy.
She also seemed to directly accuse PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah for the violence.
Mamata also questioned the central forces' version of firing on voters in self-defence and said her government will initiate a CID probe into the incident.
Banerjee said there is no video footage or any other proof to substantiate claims of the central forces.
Banerjee reiterated her demand for the resignation of home minister Shah for the incident and wondered whose "direct interference into the functioning of the Election Commission and central forces" led to the excesses.
PM Modi condoles death in CISF firing, blames TMC
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths in Cooch Behar and requested the Election Commission to take stern action against those responsible for the incident.
He also blamed the ruling TMC for perpetrating violence during the polls.
He accused chief minister Mamata Banerjee of instigating people against the central forces.
"What happened in Cooch Behar is unfortunate and sad. I extend my condolences to the bereaved families and urge the Election Commission to take stern action against those responsible for the incident," Modi said.
373 candidates in the fray in fourth phase
Meanwhile, a total of 373 candidates contested for 44 constituencies across five districts - Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Howrah. Out of 373 candidates, 323 candidates were male and 50 candidates were female.
Polling was held from 7am to 6.30pm in 15,940 polling nine assembly constituencies in Howrah, 11 in South 24 Parganas, five in Alipurduar, nine in Cooch Behar and ten in Hooghly district.
The Cooch Behar district recorded the highest turnout of 79.73%, followed by 76.2% polling in Hoogly. In South 24 Parganas it was 75.49%, while in Howrah it was 75.03 % and in Alipurduar 73.65%, a senior official in the CEO's office said.
Female voters dominated this phase as out of a total of 1,15,094,950 voters, 58,95,871 voters were men and 56,98,789 voters were women while 290 were of other genders.
Polling for the next phase will take place on April 17.
Prashant Kishor: BJP will not cross 100 seats in Bengal
Meanwhile, another controversy erupted in the state after an audio chat of 'Club House room' involving TMC poll strategist Prashant Kishor and a few journalists was leaked on social media.
"There is no anti-incumbency against Modi. Modi has become a cult in the country. Modi is popular in Bengal. The Hindi speaking people is the core support base of BJP in Bengal. Modi is very popular here. Modi and Mamata are equally popular in Bengal," Kishor said in the conversation, which was tweeted by BJP later.
Reacting to his leaked chat, Kishor reiterated that BJP will not cross 100 seats in the West Bengal assembly elections. He also dared the saffron party to share the full chat instead of "selective" part.

(With agency inputs)