People continue to lose their lives in West Bengal panchayat elections. Now, two CPI(M) workers succumb to injuries after being shot at. The victims have been identified as Jogeshwar Ghosh and Apu Manna. With the death of these two workers, the toll in poll related violence has gone up to 10.

RECAP | The death toll in poll related violence has risen to eight with the death of an Independent candidate in Murshidabad's Nawda. The leader was shot dead by unidentified miscreants.


Even as vandalism continues during West Bengal panchayat elections voting, 41.51% of voter turnout was recorded till 1pm

The death toll in poll related violence has risen to eight with the death of an Independent candidate in Murshidabad's Nawda. The leader was shot dead by unidentified miscreants.

Trinamool Congress blames BSF for "interfering" in polls, asks them if they are working at the behest of BJP leaders. They also slam news agency ANI for spreading 'rumours'.

As poll violence-related deaths continues, another TMC worker has reportedly succumbed to injuries in Nadia's Nakashipara, taking the toll to seven. Advertisement

Hitting out at opposition parties for "derailing polls", TMC leader Partha Chatterjee says, "Opposition party leaders are responsible for violence across the state. A TMC leader was killed. We believe in fair polls and, therefore, we got our own leader arrested for indulging in clashes in Bhangar area in South 24 Parganas."

Meanwhile, BJP Union minister Babul Supriyo blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress government for the poll violence and demanded President's rule.

Hitting out at CPI(M) and BJP over panchayat poll violence, TMC MP Derek O'Brien tweets, "CPI(M) and BJP are now so desperate that they are even ganging up with Maoists to kill/ shoot/ stab three Trinamool workers in different incidents in Bengal today."

As voting closes in booth number 36 of Burdwan district's Goyalpokar, a polling officer says that more security should have been provided, and separate queues for men and women should have been made. Only one police officer was appointed at the booth. #WATCH: Clashes between BJP and CPI(M) workers in Durgapur. #WestBengal #PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/FXzXFLXynz — ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

One woman candidate of BJP was allegedly beaten up at a booth in Duttapukur area of 24 North Parganas district's Kadmbagachi when she was trying to enter a booth. The miscreants also "threatened to kill" her.

The loss of lives continue in West Bengal as a sixth person has died. A student, identified as Soujit Pramanik, was alleged lynched to death by villagers in Nadia district's Shantipur. The deceased, who was associated with TMC, had reportedly gone to capture a booth along with two workers, which enraged the local residents. His family claims that he had joined TMC "in hope of bagging a job".

At least 20 people have been injured after a crude bomb explosion in Amdanga's Sadhanpur in North 24 Parganas, reports news agency ANI.

Enraged over an attempt to disrupt the process of democracy by political activists, villagers beat a work for booth capturing in Kanksa in Durgapur. The worker is reportedly from TMC. Meanwhile, 26% of voting has been recorded till 11 am.

Ballot papers thrown in a pond after a clash that broke out between TMC and BJP workers in Murshidabad, following which voting has been stopped.

Booth number 180 of North 24 Parganas's Amdanga Panchpota has been allegedly captured and people are not being allowed to vote. A CPI(M) was also killed during bombing in the area and two others were injured. Another TMC worker, Arif Ali, was shot dead in South 24 Parganas, while a BJP worker was killed in Murshidabad.

As clashes broke between Congress and BJP workers in Malda district's Ratua, a group of voters approached media personnel and said that miscreants were roaming with pistols and a man, who had gone out to vote, was held at gunpoint by them. They said that they are forced to "boycott" voting as it is "unsafe" for them to go to violence-hit booths.

A girl in her 20s was injured by an arrow in East Midnapore district's Keshpur as bombing and violence continues in the area. TMC polling agents were also allegedly beaten up. Enraged at political parties for disrupting polling, villagers set afire several motorcycles of political workers in Nadia.

RECAP | Two days before the panchayat election in the state, police arrested three persons including two BJP leaders for allegedly possessing Rs 10 lakh in cash in the district. Superintendent of Police Avaru Rabindranath said the three were arrested from a hotel here and the unaccounted cash has been seized. The arrested persons included BJP Jalpaiguri district secretary Shubhankar Ghosh and Alipurduar district leader Raju Ghosh. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said the money belonged to the party and it would be informed to the state Election Commission.

"I have not slapped him. I just tried to stop him as he was trying to escape with ballot box," TMC Minister Rabindranath Ghosh tells CNN-News18. #BengalPanchayatPolls -- I have not slapped him. I just tried to stop him as he was trying to escape with ballot box: TMC Minister Rabindranath Ghosh tells CNN-News18#LIVE: https://t.co/dY896nnxXI pic.twitter.com/O3EPjlIqtu — News18 (@CNNnews18) May 14, 2018

BJP workers allegedly chop off a finger of TMC worker, while 14 Trinamool members were beaten up by saffron party leaders in Nandigram's Satengabari. Transport Minister Subhendu Adhikari blamed BJP for the clash, adding that the situation is under control presently and "TMC will win by a huge margin".

Bengal development minister Rabindranath Ghosh slaps a worker at Natabari booth. State election commission seeks report.