Clashes during West Bengal civic polls

In Burdwan, nine persons, including two policemen and a Trinamool Congress (TC) candidate, were injured when Trinamool and CPM activists clashed during polling in Jamuria municipality.

Stray incidents of violence in the districts marred the polling for the crucial election to Kolkata Municipal Corporation and 81 civic bodies across West Bengal on Sunday. An average 25 per cent votes were polled till 11 am throughout the state although in some places the percentage was higher, state Election Commission sources said.

Polling began at 7 am and will end at 3pm (local time). The election, in which 8.5 million voters are expected to cast their vote, is being seen as an indicator of next year’s assembly polls in the state. Police said the two sides clashed while voting at Sripur. When police reached the spot, stones were thrown at them and two of their jeeps damaged. Several bombs were also hurled during the clash.

Sripur police station officer-in-charge Saikat Ray and TC candidate Sadhan Chandra Ray were injured in the clash.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2010.