Deadly Election Clash in West Bengal: Seven Killed, Dozens Hurt
Violence marred West Bengal’s local elections on Saturday, leaving at least seven dead and scores injured. The state has long battled brutal political brawls, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pushing hard to break into territory traditionally held by the Communist Party.
Bloodshed Amidst Municipal Polls
Over 200,000 candidates are battling for power in municipal elections across West Bengal, home to 104 million people. Jawed Shamim, additional director general of the state police, confirmed seven fatalities and numerous injuries in election-related violence across several villages.
Rivals Clash With Batons and Ballot Box Arson
An anonymous police source revealed five victims were from the ruling Trinamool Congress, while the other two belonged to the BJP and Communist Party of India (Marxist). Footage showed party workers wielding batons on the streets. Ballot boxes were snatched and set ablaze outside polling stations, forcing paramilitary troops to guard voting centres.
Bombs, Blame, and Deep-Rooted Tensions
Authorities confiscated over 200 crude bombs — a grim hallmark of West Bengal’s vote-day terror, easily bought on the black market. Trinamool Congress leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of importing divisive sectarian politics to the state, which has a significant Muslim minority. In a sharp retort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Banerjee’s administration for rampant corruption.
The violent storm is far from new. West Bengal’s election history is stained with thousands of murders dating back to the 1960s. The 2021 polls saw similar brutality, with activists from both Trinamool Congress and BJP shot or hacked to death, their bodies sometimes gruesomely displayed to terrorise opponents.
