One dead, MLA injured in Bengal violence

KOLKATA: Widespread violence and clashes between rival political groups claimed one life while a Congress legislator was among a large number of people injured on the extended date of iling nominations for the West Bengal Panchayat polls on Monday.

Acting on a Calcutta High Court order, the State Election Commission extended the last day of iling nomination for the state rural election to Monday between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A number of persons were injured in the clashes that broke out in various districts, with Birbhum and Murshidabad being the most volatile.

One person was allegedly shot dead in Birbhum’s Suri during a clash between activists of the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, while Congress lawmaker Manoj Chakraborty was beaten up with bamboo poles outside the Block Development Oficer’s ofice in Baharampur of Murshidabad district.

A tug of war broke out between the Trinamool and the BJP over the political identity of Sheikha Dildar, who was found lifeless on the road some distance away from the BDO ofice in Suri.

While the state BJP leadership claimed that deceased was a member of their party’s district minority cell and was killed by assailants owing loyalty to Trinamool, the ruling party’s district president Anubrata Mondal said the deceased and his family members were Trinamool workers.

“Not just Dildar, but his entire family has been with Trinamool Congress for many years. BJP has brought in miscreants from neighbouring Jharkhand to terrorise the locals. He was killed by them,” he claimed.

In Baharampur, Congress workers obstructed National highway 34 and lifted the blockade only after an assurance from the administration of steps to ensure its candidates could ile nominations.

In the morning, Congress leader and former Union Minister Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury’s car was allegedly attacked with bricks and crude bombs outside the party’s ofice in Murshiadabad district’s Shamshergunj.

“As many as eight bombs were hurled at my vehicle outside the party ofice. The car has been damaged and two of my associates got injured,” Abu Hasem said.

Meanwhile, clashes were witnessed elsewhere in the districts of Bankura, Hoogly, East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas over the iling of nominations.