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WB rural poll: Opp attacked, 1 killed

Violence erupted on Monday in different parts of the state, a political activist was killed and several others were injured…

WB rural poll: Opp attacked, 1 killed

TMC men dragging away an Opposition candidate during nomination filing for rural polls in Purba Burdwan. (Photo: Sanjay Karmakar)

Violence erupted on Monday in different parts of the state, a political activist was killed and several others were injured over filing of nominations for the panchayat poll on the extended day as directed by the High Court.

Congress MLA Manoj Chakraborty was beaten up, Union minister Babul Supriyo obstructed, Congress MP, A H Khan Chowdhury had a bomb thrown at his car at Samsergunj while the car of another Congress MP, Abhijit Mukherjee was obstructed.

There were reports of widespread attacks on Opposition activists and CPI-M and BJP candidates who were on their way to file their nominations in Birbhum, Burdwan (east), Nadia, Midnapore, Hooghly and Murshidabad.

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Seikh Dildar Khan (28) was killed after bombs were hurled at him at Karidhya village under Suri block in Birbhum, when he was accompanying his sister-in-law, Mariam Biwi, a BJP candidate to file her nomination in the afternoon.

Seven others sustained bullet and splinter injuries and were admitted to Suri Sadar Hospital after a group of miscreants coming from the Mohammadbazar – Patharchupari stone belt area attacked a BJP rally.

The father of the victim claimed at the Suri Saadr Hospital that Trinamul Congress-backed goons killed his son, who was accompanying his daughter-in-law for contesting on the BJP symbol in Karidhya panchayat seat.

But around 4.00 p.m in front of Trinamul’s district president, Anubrata Mondal he claimed since past 22 years his family had been associated with the Congress and the Trinamul Congress.

BJP local leader, Surajit Ghosh claimed that the victim had been the general secretary of the party’s minority cell since the past three years. Babul Supriyo was prevented from visiting Faridpur block in Durgapur by Trinamul supporters. Four media persons suffered injuries when two groups of TrinamulCongres supporters clashed with each other at Durgapur on Monday.

In Baraboni panchayat , Trinamul Congress supporters beat, dragged on the road another Trinamul supporter who was going to file nomination papers as Independent candidate on Monday in BDO office in Burdwan (west) district. The filing of nomination in Midnapore (west), Midnapore, (east),Jhargram and Nadia was marred by massive violence.

Several candidates of both the Opposition parties could not file their nomination papers even at the respective sub-divisional offices in these districts following threats by alleged Trinamul activists.

Tension ran high in Nadia district after the Trinamul Congress workers after allegedly violating the Section 144 kept gheraoed the Chapra block office and prevented the Opposition party candidates from filing nominations.

They beat up the Opposition party workers at Chapra bus stand area allegedly injuring seven persons. The BJP and CPI-M leaders alleged that the ruling party workers fired a few rounds in the air to terrorise them.

Apart from Chapra, tension prevailed at Hanshkhali, Tehatta, Karimpur, Haringhata, Chakdah and Nakashipara as the ruling Trinamul Congress workers prevented the Opposition party candidates from filing nominations.

The Opposition parties of Hooghly district alleged that the Trinamul Congress-backed goons attacked them and prevented them from filing nomination at Balagarh, Polba, Haripal, Mogra, Chanditala and Arambagh.

State Congress leadership accused the ruling Trinamul Congress of launching unprovoked attacks on the Congress party legislators, leaders and intending contestants in Malda.

The Behrampore MLA, Mr Manoj Chakraborty was allegedly beaten up with bamboo sticks when he was leading some party candidates for submitting nominations at Behrampore BDO office. The Congress MLA fell on the ground when he was allegedly attacked by TMC goons.

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