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Kolkata: The third phase of assembly polls in 62 constituencies of West Bengal on Thursday witnessed a series of clashes between political rivals during which bombs were exploded but the violence failed to deter the electors who came out in large numbers, recording a 79.22 per cent voter turnout. A CPM supporter was killed and four partymen were injured.
A presiding officer in a booth in Burdwan was removed on complaints by polling agents that he was trying to influence voters. Union Minister Babul Supriyo was allegedly heckled at a polling booth in Jorasanko constituency in the city when he went to cast his vote, along with his mother.
Election Commission sources said forces were sent and the situation was brought under control. The body of a 35-year-old CPM supporter, identified as Tahidur Islam, was found about 500 metres away from the polling booth at Shibapara area of Domkal assembly seat in Murshidabad district.
In Kolkata, Trinamul leader Anwar Khan was arrested following instructions from Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta after he was shown on TV channels abusing the poll panel while talking to a party worker over phone.
In Burdwan’s Ketugram constituency, four persons were injured in separate incidents. A CPM worker’s ear was slashed and the leg of another party supporter fractured in a scuffle in front of a booth number 78.
Two other CPM workers were injured at booth number 48 when bombs were reportedly hurled at them. District Election Officer Soumitra Mohan said four persons have been arrested in this connection. He said a presiding officer of Khan-daghosh seat was removed after complaints by polling agents that he was trying to influence voters.
Domkal CPM candidate and former minister Anisur Rahman claimed that Islam was killed when bombs were hurled outside the polling booth, while district superintendent of police C Sudhakar said the murder was not related to the polls.
Left parties have blamed the ruling Trinamul for the killing and alleged that it has unleashed a reign of terror to intimidate voters. Trinamul on the other hand said the death was a fallout of infighting between the alliance partners Congress and Left Front.
