Kolkata civic polls take place amid sporadic violence

Kolkata, April 18: Just over 52 per cent of polling took place till 1 pm amid sporadic violence in the civic polls here on Saturday.

While crude bombs were hurled in front of the Raj Bhavan on Council House Street, allegedly targetting the Congress camp office and also in Ward 60 of Beniapukur in front of Islamic School, which was converted into a polling premise. A few Congress supporters were injured in the incident and local Congress candidate Santosh Pathak rushed to the spot.

Reports of firing and bombing also came from Ward 22 where Left candidate was allegedly beaten up by supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The TMC, however, rubbished the charges. The fourth party in the fray, BJP, did not raise any charges though.

In Ward 134, a person was held for allegedly breaking an electronic voting machine. The accused is reportedly a polling agent of the Congress.

Sources in the West Bengal Election Commission said the polling process has been peaceful and no major incidents were reported. Sabyasachi Ghosh of the state polling commission said the poll was peaceful except a few small incidents.

The opposition, however, accused that voters were not allowed to cast their ballot in several areas. Three rounds of shots were also allegedly fired at CPI(M) leader Fuad Halim who filed a police complaint.

The Kolkata civic polls feature 1,077 candidates and 38 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballot to elect a new municipal board. The municipal corporation is currently ruled by the TMC.

Oneindia News