About 68 per cent turnout recorded in Bengal Assy polls

Kolkata, Apr 22 (UNI) An estimated 68 per cent people cast their votes in four West Bengal districts till this evening as voters turned up in huge numbers indicating a higher percentage of polling.

Deputy Election Commissioner Anand Kumar told UNI that the polling was peaceful and spontaneous.

''The polling is totally peaceful and no untoward incidents have been reported so far. The booths are witnessing heavy turnout with long queues of voters waiting outside till now,'' he said.

The polling for the second phase is being held in 66 constituencies of East Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly and Nadia districts amid an unprecedented security cover with the deployment of more than 57,000 central para miliatary force jawans.

While East Midnapore and Howrah reported 75 per cent polling each, 60 per cent people exercised their franchise in both Hooghly and Nadia till 1700 hrs when polling was supposed to be over.

However, polling was likely to continue beyond the deadline as long queues of people were seen outside many of the booths still waiting to cast their votes.

Braving gruelling heat, voters turned up in a large number and cooled their heels in front of almost every booth even before polling started at 0700 hrs. There was a marked presence of women also.

In a large area of Nadia, people weathered heavy rain accompanied by a squall to cast their votes.

However, a report from Nadia district said tension ran high when para military force jawans manhandled CPI(M) candidate for Ranaghat(West) Alokesh Das, failing to recognise him. The matter was, however, settled after the CPI(M) leaders lodged a protest with the BSF Commanding Officer.

A section of people, alleging that their names had been deleted from the electoral rolls despite having photo identity cards, intercepted Deputy Election Commissioner Anand Kumar at Gayeshpur under Chakdaha constituency of Nadia district, demanding that they be allowed to vote.

The aggrieved people, however, dispersed after the Deputy Election Commissioner assured them of looking into the matter.

Local people boycotted polling at one booth each under Uluberia South constituency in Hooghly and Nakashipara in Nadia over local issues. However, the boycott at Nakashipara was withdrawn after an hour and polling started in the booths.

A BSF jawan committed suicide inside the camp at Shyampur in Uluberia of Hooghly district by shooting himself from his service rifle.

Official sources said the jawan was suffering from depression.

Central para miliatry force jawans, posted at every booth, guarding the premises and patrolling streets, were seen helping the old and the infirm.

However, it was because of very large turnout that the queues were moving slowly and many people had to wait for long to cast votes in many areas.

Eds : Please pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI KDG SJC YA DS1731