In the last nine days, seven persons, including one BJP worker, have died in West Bengal in clashes ahead of the panchayat polls. Three Trinamool workers have also died.

A BJP worker was allegedly murdered on Saturday midnight in Dinhata with a sharp weapon after he was called outside by some people. Sambhu Das was a relative of candidate Bisakha Das. Minister of State (Home) Nisith Pramanik visited the deceased’s house in Coochbehar. Paramanik said the state government and State Election Commission (SEC) are giving space to allow violence and BJP workers are intimidated. “There is no law in Bengal and the police are working on behalf of the ruling party. We want free and fair polls in the presence of central forces,” he said. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar warned Trinamool Congress and asked chief minister Mamata Banerjee to ‘intervene and stop the dangerous game’.

Two Trinamool workers were killed in Bhangar amid bombing and intense violence during the last two days of nomination filing. A delegation of Trinamool Congress leaders, including transport minister Snehasish Chakraborty, reached Bhangar to meet the family members of the deceased in Bhangar. An Indian Secular Front (ISF) worker was also killed in Bhangar.

Another Trinamool worker died in Malda’s Sujapur on Saturday while one CPM worker reportedly died in North Dinajpur’s Chopra after he was hit by bullets with other political workers. The first murder in connection with the pre-poll violence was reported in Murshidabad‘s Khargram last Saturday when a Congress worker died. However, the chief minister claimed that the nomination process was peaceful except in two booths in Bhangar. Her claim irked the opposition.