West Bengal Elections: Protests over West Bengal panchayat polls turn violent

Protests erupted across West Bengal following the violence and allegations of irregularities during the panchayat elections. BJP workers in Purba Medinipur district blocked the Haldia-Mecheda state highway, accusing the counting centre of tampering with ballot boxes. In Malda, Congress workers blocked National Highway 12 in Rathbari area to express their grievances over the violence during polling.

State minister Tajmul Hossain's car was vandalized in Harishchandrapur, and a police vehicle was also targeted. Police suspect the involvement of miscreants from Bihar. Uttar Dinajpur witnessed vehicles being set on fire and vandalized during protests in the Chakulia police station area. Congress workers in Murshidabad district's Beldanga alleged intimidation and false voting by the ruling TMC during the polls.

West Bengal was plagued by violence during the conclusion of the rural polls on 8 July. Tragically, 12 lives were lost, ballot boxes were destroyed, and bombs were thrown at opponents in various villages.

These distressing events served as a grim reminder of the 2003 panchayat polls, where the death toll reached a staggering 76 and over 40 lives were claimed on the day of the elections.

The state has a troubled past with violence during panchayat polls, and since the announcement of this year's elections in June, there have already been 30 casualties. This unfortunate trend mirrors the pattern of violence witnessed during the 2018 panchayat polls, where a similar number of lives were tragically lost.