Violence, low turnout mark Bengal last phase polling

| | Diamond Harbour/Kolkata
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Violence, low turnout mark Bengal last phase polling

Monday, 20 May 2019 | Saugar Sengupta | Diamond Harbour/Kolkata

Bengal lived up to its violent reputations even as reports of stray, yet continued and ‘systematic’ violence emanated from most of the nine parliamentary constituencies — and four Assembly seats where, bypolls took place — that went to the seventh and final phase of polling on Sunday.

Reports of bombing, booth-capture, proxy voting and came in from Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, Joynagar, Dum Dum, Basirhat and North Kolkata even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Central forces of “doing excess.”

The final phase of polling witnessed a “remarkably low” 72.91 per cent of polling till 5 pm in the evening. Though the rate may go up by a few notches till the polling ends it is unlikely to cross the 80 per cent bar. Bengal normally votes in excess of 83-84 per cent.

While Barasat constituency recorded 74.47 per cent votes the figure for Basirhat was 77.77 per cent. Dum Dum saw 73.05 per cent polling while 67.09 per cent voters exercised their franchise at Kolkata South seat.

At Kolkata North even lower 61.18 per cent voter turnout was recorded.

Neighbouring Jadavpur saw 70.97 per cent polling while Diamond Harbour saw 77.40 per cent voters casting their votes. At Joynagar and Mathurapur seats 75.87 and 78.52 per cent voters ventured out to vote.

Bombing was reported from Deganga at Basirhat parliamentary constituency. Similar incidents were reported from Falta in Diamond Harbour and Joynagar constituencies. BJP and CPI(M) workers clashed at Jadavpur where a Left polling agent was beaten up by alleged TMC men apparently causing a cerebral stroke to the victim, sources said.

The BJP and TMC supporters fought with crude bombs at Islampur and Bhatpara Assembly by-elections segments. Bombs were lobbed from all sides giving the security forces a hard time even as repeated lathicharges were resorted to control the violent mob belonging to the two outfits.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister accused the Central forces of “unprecedented torture on common people.” She said, “I have not seen such a level of torture by the central forces before,” Banerjee said in a short statement.

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