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Polling was peaceful: Mamata Banerjee

| | Apr 19, 2015, at 01:48 am
Kolkata, Apr 18 (IBNS): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said polling for the 144-seat Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) was 'peaceful'.

 She thanked the police for ensuring a 'peaceful' polling in the city.

"It was peaceful and I thank police for the same. In 144 wards the polling was held and in only a few there were sporadic incidents and in those places too police immediately intervened. I got full report to say this now," Banerjee said.

Elections to the high stakes Kolkata Municipal Corporation ended on Saturday amid reports of sporadic violence.

A police officer sustained bullet injuries, three Congress supporters were injured in a bomb attack,  shots were allegedly fired at a CPI(M) leader and allegations of widespread rigging, assault and intimidation by the ruling Trinamool Congress poured in as the opposition called the polls a 'farce.'

Jagannath Mondal, a sub-inspector on duty near a booth in north Kolkata's Girish Park area was injured when bullets were fired at the force he was leading to intervene in an altercation between the workers of Trinamool Congress and Congress.

Mondal has been rushed to a nursing home.

Speaking on the condition of the injured police officer, the CM said: "He is stable, he is safe. Doctors will decide when to operate. He got hit on the back below shoulder. He has been shifted to CMRI. It occurred after the polling was over."

In another incident, three Congress workers were injured when bombs were hurled at a party office on Council House Street near the Raj Bhavan.

CPI(M) leader Rabin Deb described the polling as a farce and alleged that Left party agents were assaulted and driven out of booths in many places as the ruling party indulged in largescale rigging and booth capturing.

BJP state President Rahul Sinha said the election witnessed "rape of democracy" as violence and malpractices took place with the tacit support of police and the State Election Commission.

CPI(M) leader Fuad Halim alleged that three shots were fired at him at Kyd street near the MLA hostel in central Kolkata.

Bombs  were hurled in several places across the city apparently to scare away rival party supporters.

The Trinamool, however, denied all the allegations. 

Altogether 144 seats were contested  and more municipal elections are due across the state next week.

 

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