CPI(M) alleges Trinamool Congress intimidation, assault during polling

CPI(M) today alleged that the fourth phase of West Bengal Assembly elections were marked by stray incidents of intimidation and assault on its workers by Trinamool Congress and urged the Election Commission to take 'extra-precaution' for peaceful and fair polls in the next two phases.
   
"Today's polling was characteristically different from the last three phases as reports point to assault on party workers and polling agents, intimidation of voters, snatching of voters' cards and gherao of CPI(M) sympathisers at booths under Ketugram, Nandigram, Tarakeswar, Serampore, Ausgram, Jagacha and Contai (North) constituencies," CPI(M) state Secretary Biman Bose said.
   
Bose said that some CPI(M) workers, "rendered homeless due to Trinamool violence," remained gheraoed by Trinamool activists on return after casting votes at Bhangaberia under Nandigram constituency.
   
"Our polling agents were forced to leave the polling stations in 98 booths spread over Howrah, Hoogly, East Midnapore and parts of Burdwan districts where polling was held today," he alleged.
   
"Of these 63 booths were in East Midnapore districts' Nandigram and Contai (North) constituencies alone," Bose said.
   
The CPI(M) leader urged the Election Commission to be 'more careful and extra cautious' in the next two phases of polling to be held in Maoist pockets of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts.