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20 pc polling in Bengal, 16 pc in Assam in first two hours

by IBNS 11 Apr 2016, 12:36 am

Kolkata/Guwahati, Apr 11 (IBNS) Voting for Assembly election was underway in West Bengal and Assam with an overall 18 per cent turnout being reported in the first two hours.

Reports said the polling percentage in West Bengal till 9 am was about 20 per cent while it was aboiut 16 per cent in Assam.

In West Bengal, 31 constituencies went to polls in the second part of the first phase election while polling is being held in 61 constituencies in the second phase. 

Stray incidents of violence were received from West Bengal, where at least three opposition activists were injured  in attacks allegedly by workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress at Jamuria in Bardhaman and West Medinipur's  Sabang and Chandrakona constituencies.

The person, injured in Jamuria is a CPI(M) polling agent, who was allegedly prevented from entering the booth.

A Trinamool Congress worker, Sheikh Shamser, was arrested in this connection, the official said.

Polling was held up for some time in a booth in Chandrakona in West Medinipur district after police lathicharged warring people belonging to rival political parties.

One person was seriously injured in an attack allegedly by Trinamool activists when he was returning home after casting his vote in Sabang constituency of West Medinipur district. The Congress claims that the man who broke one of his legs in the attack is a party supporter.

In another incident, two bags containing bombs were found near booth number 35 under Jamuria constituency.  

Polling in Assam is, however, going on peacefully with no major incidents being reported so far.

Polling is taking place   across three West Bengal districts- West Midnapore , Bankura and Burdwan involving 70 lakh voters and 163 candidates. 

In the first part of the first phase, polling took place in 18 Assembly constituencies on April 4. 

In Assam's 61 constituencies a  total of 1,04,35,277 voters will decide the fates of 525 candidates in the second phase of  voting.