Officials of the Election Commission on duty in Kalshibhanga area of Salboni in the State’s Paschim Medinipur district came under attack on Saturday.
They were heckled while video-graphing a public rally of the Left Party candidate Prabodh Panda. The officials’ cars were damaged. Mr Panda was also beaten up.
“Senior police officers have visited the area and a detailed report from the District Magistrate has been sought. The identity of the attackers can be ascertained only after we get a detailed report. One person has been arrested as per the preliminary report and video footage,” Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Amit Roy Choudhury said.
Meanwhile, poll-related violence continued in the State. In the sixth instance of violence, one person died in Bardhaman district on Saturday. Confirming the death, Mr Chowdhury said, “A conflict arose after some persons tore off the opponent party’s posters in Bardhaman. Sixteen persons have been arrested in this connection. A detailed report has been sought from the District Magistrate within 24 hours.” Talking to mediapersons about the attack on Mr. Panda, leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said, “The attack was directed at our candidate Prabodh Panda.”
Elsewhere in Paschim Medinipur, a local Left Front candidate was beaten up by alleged opponents. He was hospitalised. Mr. Choudhury, however, refused to comment on the incident as the State Chief Electoral Office “had no information regarding this.”
Re-poll at Malda Dakshin
Re-polling would be conducted on April 27 in one booth in the constituency number 8 at Malda Dakshin at segment number 54 in Baishnabnagar due to an error of the EVM. The poll in this constituency was conducted on April 24, Mr. Chowdhury said.
