Violence during the polling for the third and final phase of the Panchayat Elections in seven districts of West Bengal on Sunday killed eight people including 5 CPI (M) supporters and 3 of Congress. The clashes between supporters of the Communist Party of India Marxist and the Congress in Murshidabad and Birbhum districts left several people injured also.

Altogether 62 people were arrested in Murshidabad district, the stronghold of the Congress.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said, “Two CPI-M and two Congress supporters were killed at the Domkol police station area of Murshidabad district while one person each was killed at the Harudanga and Raninagar police station areas in the same district, as rival party supporters clashed with bombs and firearms.”

He said that one CPI-M worker was killed at Nannur in Birbhum district.

About 25 people were admitted to hospitals with either gunshots or bomb splinter injuries.

The first phase of the poll which was held on May 11 has been went peaceful while the violence struck in second phase on May 14 which killed 6 people and about 15 were reportedly injured.

Following violence in the second phase, security has been beefed up for the third and final phase of the Panchayat elections, which is being held in districts of Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpur, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Malda.