North 24 Parganas: Police recovered bombs, bomb-making equipment, gun powder and bullets in the Madral Joychanditala area of Bhatpara on Saturday ahead of the fifth phase of assembly elections in the state. Police registered a case under the Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act. Further investigation is underway.
The Election Commission has intensified the vigilance across West Bengal to check any untoward incident in the poll season. The voting in the Bhatpara constituency in North 24 Parganas will be held in the sixth phase of the state assembly polls on April 22.
At least five people were killed in two separate incidents in Cooch Behar yesterday following which the voting was suspended at polling booth no 126.
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Four persons were killed when central forces opened fire on an unruly mob in Sitalkuchi assembly constituency in Mathabhanga block in Cooch Behar district on Saturday. In another incident in the same constituency a first-time voter was killed, taking the total number of deaths to five.
The election watchdog has given a clean chit to the CISF saying that opening fire "became necessary to save the lives of the voters" and it was made in "self-defence" and has also barred political leaders from campaigning in the area.
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The ruling Trinamool Congress and the opponent BJP exchanged barbs over the violence that marred the polling process.
West Bengal has a history of violence during elections. Keeping this in mind, EC has been conducting the assembly elections this time in eight phases. The first four phases of the eight-phased elections have taken place on March 27, April 1, April 6 and April 10. The counting of the votes will take place on May 2.
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With agency inputs
