West Bengal Assembly Election 2021: Fourth phase polling underway amid incidence of violence, EC seeks report

Voting in the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 in 44 Assembly constituencies across the state is underway. However, this phase of voting is marred by violence as four people were allegedly shot dead in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal during polling.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has claimed that five people have died in the clashes at the Sitalkuchi constituency amid polling. A first-time voter was among them who was shot dead outside a polling booth in Cooch Behar. Two persons have been arrested so far, police said. The Election Commission has sought a report over the incident.

The incident followed a clash between the BJP and the TMC workers and supporters. Sporadic incidents of violence have also started pouring in from other parts of the district.

"Central Forces opened fire twice. In Block 1 of Mathabhanga (Cooch Behar) 1 was killed and 3 injured, in Sitalkuchi block, 3 were killed and 1 injured. Central Forces are doing injustice to people & they've crossed limits. When CM called them out, EC issued her notices," claimed TMC leader Dola Sen.

Fourth phase polling details

Forty-four seats covering Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts in north Bengal and parts of South 24 Parganas, Howrah, and Hoogly in the southern part of the state are voting today.

Union Minister Babul Supriyo, state ministers Partha Chatterjee and Arup Biswas are among the 373 candidates in the fourth phase.

Also in the fray is TMC turncoat Rajib Banerjee, a former minister of the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, who will contest from Domjur in Howrah district on a BJP ticket.

The voting is underway with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols in 9 seats in Howrah, 11 in South 24 Parganas, 5 in Alipurduar, 9 in Coochbehar, and 10 in Hooghly.

The Election Commission has deployed at least 789 companies of the central armed police force (CAPF) in 15,940 polling stations.

The fifth phase of the West Bengal assembly elections will take place on April 17. The Assembly elections in West Bengal are been conducted in eight phases. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. 

PM Modi speech

Meanwhile, addressing an election rally in Siliguri, PM Narendra Modi said, "I would like to tell Didi, TMC, and their goons clearly that their ways will not be allowed to work in Bengal. I urge the Election Commission to take strict action against the accused of the incident in Cooch Behar. Didi, this violence, tactics of instigating people to attack the security forces, the tactics of obstructing the polling process will not protect you. This violence can't protect you from the 10 years of your ill-governance. It's time to change the kind of political environment that has been created in Bengal for the past several decades. 'Tolabaaj mukt' Bengal will be formed now. 'Syndicate mukt' Bengal will be formed now. 'Cut money mukt' Bengal will be formed now."