3 killed in Phase 3 of rural polls

Three persons were killed and a CRPF jawan died in the violence-marred third phase panchayat elections in West Bengal on Friday, which recorded 75 per cent voting till 5 pm. CPI(M) worker Motherbux Mullick was grievously injured when Trinamul Congress activists allegedly hurled bombs at him in Amdanga in North 24 Parganas. The 65-year-old was taken to Barasat hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. Within an hour of the incident, Trinamul Congress supporter Sanat Ghosh was allegedly shot dead by CPI(M) workers in Lakhhikantapur in South 24 Parganas. In Ghutia Sharif in South 24 Parganas, the body of a 16-year-old boy Somnath Mukherjee with multiple wounds, was fished out of a pond. Sources said that the boy was killed and thrown into the pond. However, the police is investigating whether it was a result of personal rivalry or anything related to poll violence. Meanwhile, in a tragic incident, a CRPF jawan died after accidentally suffering a bullet injury from his service revolver. The incident occurred in Shyamnagar in North 24 Parganas, where the jawan was on poll duty. Reports of booth jamming, stealing of ballot boxes, political clashes and beating of Opposition workers were received from the three districts of North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Howrah, which went to poll on Friday. Crude bombs were hurled outside polling booths in Panchla, Amta and Udaynarayanpur in Howrah, which temporary disrupted the voting process. In Bhangar and Canning of South 24 Parganas, CPI(M) agents were allegedly beaten by Trinamul Congress supporters. A polling agent was beaten up who was later taken to a hospital at Bilkanda in North 24 Parganas. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) workers put up road blockades at various places. While putting up a road blockade in Dunlop, CPI(M) supporters clashed with TMC activists. Similar road blockades were also organised by CPI(M) at B.T. Road in Sodepur and Ghorpara Road in Naihati, alleging that the panchayat elections were not being held in a free and fair manner. Party activists also stopped local trains at Shyamnagar railway station.