Kolkata civic poll ends with scattered violence, cop shot at

About 32000 policemen and 3 companies of central paramilitary forces were deployed in 4639 booths in Kolkata as polling for the 144-seat Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) commenced in the morning.

Police used three drone cameras to run aerial surveillance at Kashipur, Metiaburuz and Baghajatin-Mukundapur area in Kolkata.

"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," Mamata Banerjee said.

Meanwhile,  a police officer sustained bullet injuries, three Congress supporters got injured in a bomb attack,  and shots were allegedly fired at a CPI(M) leader. There were allegations of widespread rigging, assault and intimidation by the ruling Trinamool Congress 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 was rushed to a nursing home and later shifted to the CMRI Hospital.

Commissioner of Kolkata police Surajit Kar Purakayastha and  Banerjee went to the CMRI Hospital.

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."

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

The Trinamool, however, denied all the allegations.

Trinamool Congress  Secretary-General Partha Chatterjee said the polling was "peaceful and free."

The party said they will return to rule the Kolkata Corporation once again.

"5 years of hard work. We are very confident that the people of Kolkata will bless us abundantly," said Derek O'Brien, Trinamool's Lok Sabha MP.

However, 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.

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 Fuad Halim alleged that three shots were fired at him at Kyd Street near the MLA hostel in central Kolkata.

"I am lucky to have escaped with my life, what is unfortunate is I have had to witness the murder of democracy in Kolkata today,"Halim said.

A BJP worker was dragged out of a polling booth in Barabazar allegedly by rival Trinamool, after claims that candidates were trying to influence voters inside a poll booth.

In another incident, a BJP camp office was ransacked allegedly by Trinamool activists in Burrabazar area.

"The TMC has got many outsiders and they are being sent to vote without ration card or election card. They are doing false voting,"  BJP candidate Mina Devi said.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress president Adhir Choudhury said that people of Bengal were habituated to see such violence in the state. "The present scenario is just like 'old wine in a new bottle'. When the CPI-M was the ruling party of WB, they did the same," he added.

Police Commissioner Surajit Karpurakayastha said there were 10-12 incidents of minor disturbances which police brought under control.

The State Election Commissioner has accepted receiving 60 to 70 complaints.

According to police reports, they arrested 58 people for creating violence during the election and 18 bombs and 1 fire-arm were recovered.

The result of this election will be declared on Apr 28.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)