Widespread violence reported in Bengal civil polls

Kolkata: The civic polls in West Bengal began on Sunday reporting extensive violence in the early hours.

Since polling began at 7 am, booths saw opposition candidates being roughed up, wrangling over alleged false voting, rigging and other malpractices, according to Indian Express.

One incident in Bhatpara a BJP candidate's husband was accused of damaging voting machines. A group of TMC workers beat up an independent candidate in Barrackpore,

In another incident, a CPM candidate in Arambag allegedly came under attack by TMC workers.

Showing how widespread the violence is, scores of Opposition candidates were attacked in Murshidabad district.

Even media persons in places including Contai in East Midnapore district were allegedly roughed up by TMC workers.

BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh roundly condemned the violence, saying that an election in Bengal without violence is 'unimaginable'.

About 16 per cent polling was registered in 107 municipalities out of the 108 where elections are under way.

Of the 108 municipalities going to polls, about 16 percent polling marked in 107 at the time of reporting.