Four killed, 15 injured in violence during West Bengal Panchayat polls
14 May 2008, 1626 Hrs

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Kolkata, May 14 (ANI): Four persons were killed and at least 15 injured in separate incidents of violence in West Bengal during the second phase of Panchayat polls today.

The violence at Amjhara village in South 24-Paraganas District brew up when activists of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the partners of the Left Front government clashed together to prevent voters casting their votes.

One person died in a separate incident in Howrah District.

"Three of our activists were killed in the deliberate attacks by CPM. They are not allowing our party members to cast their votes," senior RSP leader and PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami alleged.

The voting was suspended in booths 17 and 18 at Haldarpara village in the Taldih area after a bomb injured the presiding officer at a booth following violence by CPM activists inside the booths.

In a separate poll-related incident in Howrah District, police said one person was killed and seven others, including a police constable and homeguard, were injured at Najibpur village during violence in booths under Karola gram Panchayat.

The Congress said that CPM activists drove out the election agent of the Congress candidate and hurled bombs near the booth, injuring eight persons. (ANI)