Three people were killed and several others injured in West Bengal on Thursday during violence over filing of nominations for the July 8 panchayat elections, police officials said. Two persons were killed at Bhangore in South 24 Parganas district, while another youth was gunned down in Uttar Dinajpur district.

Thursday was the last day for filing nomination papers.

The Calcutta High Court directed the State EC to deploy central forces within 48 hours in all districts. “On receipt of the requisition, the appropriate authority of the central government shall deploy the required number of central forces and the cost to be borne by the central government and no part of it to be charged to the government of West Bengal,” the order said.