At least three persons were killed and several others were injured in violence that broke out at several places in Nadia district, hours after voting began for the panchayat polls on Monday.

The district election official said 73.6 per cent polling was recorded till 5.00 p.m. The numbers may, however, increase as people were waiting outside polling stations even after the end of the polling time at a few booths.

The district magistrate Sumit Gupta said the polling was by and large peaceful. “Three persons have been killed during the poll and violence erupted at a few places. Police have taken action immediately and brought the situation under control. A polling officer was injured and complaints lodged by various people and parties have already been sent to the state control room for taking action,” Mr Gupta said.

The Opposition BJP and CPI-M, however, brought several allegations of booth jamming, booth capturing and rigging against the ruling Trinamul Congress.

Both the party leaders have lodged complaints with the EC with a demand for repolling at several booths in the district. According to reports from local residents, trouble broke out at Santipur when villagers set on fire 11 motorcycles on which youths came allegedly to foment violence. A clash broke out between the bikers and the mob. They hurled bombs at each other.

Even several rounds were fired. Later, the irate mob chased the bikers who fled the scene immediately after leaving their motorbikes. During the clash, one Sanjit Pramanik (27), a MA first year student, received bullet injuries. He later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. At least eight persons were also injured during the clash.

Trinamul Congress leaders claimed that Sanjit was their party activist. Later, a large section of police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

A Trinamul Congress supporter, Bhola Sheikh Dafadar, was killed in Nakashipara when he was returning from the booth after casting his vote. It was then when the ruling party workers were involved in a clash with the Opposition BJP. Tension gripped the locality soon after the death news of Dafadar spread. A large section of police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

Another Trinamul Congress supporter, Krishnapada Sarkar (65) was clobbered to death in Tehatta. Local residents said Sarkar had been protesting the booth jamming allegedly by the BJP workers. This led to an altercation with them and later it turned into a clash between the TMC and the BJP workers.

The BJP workers hit at his head by a bamboo rod and he fell on the ground. He was first admitted to the Tehatta hospital from where he was taken to the Saktinagar district hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

This apart, clashes were reported from different areas across the district including Hanskhali, Bogula, Nakashipara, Chapra, Tehatta, Kaliganj and Santipur areas.

The CPI-M leadership accused the ruling party of unleashing terror in as many as 60 per cent booths in Nadia. “At least 90 agents of our party were removed from the booths and they were later either beaten up or threatened with dire consequences. Four polling agents are still missing. We have lodged a complaint with the district election officer”, said a CPI-M leader.

BJP leaders have alleged that their party agents of at least 50 booths in Chapra were taken out from the booths and were later beaten up. The BJP alleged that over 70 percent booths in Nadia didn’t have proper security.

Mr. Partha Chatterjee, Trinamul secretary-general during a Press conference on Monday, however, brushed aside the allegation saying that three of their party supporters were killed in the clash.