Bengal rural polls: Deploy central forces, orders HC as violence amplifies

Cops detain a man after clash between parties in Bhangar, on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered the requisition and deployment of central forces for the West Bengal panchayat elections scheduled to be held on July 8.

The court also left it to the discretion of the State Election Commission (SEC) to take a call on extension of time for filing of nominations, refusing to consider a prayer in this regard. A division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam directed the SEC to requisition central forces to work in tandem with the local police force.

Bombs hurled

Bombs were hurled, injuring several people at Bhangar in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, as violence continued on day 4 of nomination filing. The local Indian Secular Front MLA had announced that its candidates will file their nomination papers on Tuesday.

Local TV channels showed cops and journalists fleeing as bombs were hurled by unidentified miscreants. Incidents of violence have been reported since June 9, the first day of nomination filing.

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