Violence amidst panchayat elections, Murshidabad reports 3 fatalities

The district of Murshidabad in West Bengal has witnessed the highest level of violence during the ongoing Panchayat elections. Troubles erupted right from the first day of nominations, with allegations of skirmishes and firing between supporters of ruling and opposition parties. On Friday night, three workers of the ruling party were reportedly killed in Murshidabad. Babar Ali (40), a Trinamool Congress worker, became a victim of political violence in the Chhath floor of the Kapasdanga police station area.

Babar Ali and Foulchand Sheikh were sitting at a tea stall in the village when a group of armed assailants attacked them. Both individuals were severely injured and rushed to Murshidabad Medical College in Berhampore. Unfortunately, doctors declared Babar Ali dead upon arrival.

Eyewitnesses have alleged the involvement of Congress-backed miscreants in the incident. However, local Congress leaders have denied these accusations. The residents of the region are fearful in the aftermath of the killings.

Three Murshidabad Killings: In another incident, Yasin Sheikh, a worker of the ruling party, lost his life in Nazirpur under the Rejinagar police station on Saturday morning. Yasin was reportedly killed by a bomb thrown by miscreants. Meanwhile, during the morning of polling day, the body of Sabiruddin Sheikh, a Trinamool Congress worker, was discovered in an empty plot of land in Khargram, Murshidabad.

According to reports, Sabiruddin was brutally attacked and murdered with sharp weapons around 3 am in the Ratanpur Naldip village of the Khargram police station area. He was then taken to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. The main accused in the murder case is believed to be associated with Sabiruddin.

Additionally, a Congress worker named Foulchand Sheikh was killed in Ratanpur, Khargram, on the first day of nominations. According to local sources, Sabiruddin was the prime suspect in the murder. However, the family of the deceased has denied the allegations.

Violence and Firing Before Polling: Before the commencement of polling, incidents of firing and killings were reported from various locations. Both the ruling and opposition parties have accused each other of engaging in clashes. According to local sources, at least 24 people were injured in the CPM-Trinamool clash in Raninagar on Saturday morning.

Allegations have also emerged of the hindrance of CPM agents at several booths in the region. Trinamool supporters have been accused of opening fire on CPM workers in the Hursi area of Raninagar.

In Domkal block's Garaimari area, Trinamool-supported troublemakers were accused of preventing CPM agents from entering the booths. In Kushibariya, Domkal, two Trinamool Congress workers and one Congress worker were allegedly shot dead.

Furthermore, there are reports of the murder of two Trinamool Congress workers in Islamapur. According to local sources, both individuals are currently undergoing treatment in a super-specialty hospital in critical condition.