West Bengal Panchayat Election LIVE: 10 Killed in Poll Violence; Trinamool Questions BSF 'Interference'

People continue to lose their lives in West Bengal panchayat elections. Now, two CPI(M) workers succumb to injuries after being shot at. The victims have been identified as Jogeshwar Ghosh and Apu Manna. With the death of these two workers, the toll in poll related violence has gone up to 10.

RECAP | The death toll in poll related violence has risen to eight with the death of an Independent candidate in Murshidabad's Nawda. The leader was shot dead by unidentified miscreants.

#WATCH - At least eight people have been killed in poll-related violence even as voting continues in West Bengal panchayat election. #BengalPanchayatPolls pic.twitter.com/Ay8wxLRhIv

— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 14, 2018

Muti-coloured political character! In a desperate bid to shame Bengal and knowing they will be defeated-- now BJP, CPIM gang up with Maoists. Nothing will work. The people of Bengal were, are and will be with Trinamool : Derek

— AITC (@AITCofficial) May 14, 2018

#WATCH Ballot box being retrieved from a pond in West Bengal's Sonadangi. #PanchayatPolls pic.twitter.com/vDf3dUvtKI

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

Even as vandalism continues during West Bengal panchayat elections voting, 41.51% of voter turnout was recorded till 1pm

West Bengal: Voting booth vandalised allegedly by TMC workers in North Dinajpur's Sonadangi during #PanchayatPolls pic.twitter.com/I9epqPreXR

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

The death toll in poll related violence has risen to eight with the death of an Independent candidate in Murshidabad's Nawda. The leader was shot dead by  unidentified miscreants.

#WATCH:Vehicles vandalised in Raniganj area of Asansol during voting for #PanchayatPolls in #West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/fPVJP1E5Zc

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

Trinamool Congress blames BSF for "interfering" in polls, asks them if they are working at the behest of BJP leaders. They also slam news agency ANI for spreading 'rumours'.

Why is BSF interfering in #Bengal #PanchayatElection in Dakshin Dinajpur and other border districts? Are BSF govt employees or BJP employees? Have they been told to help #BJP? Reminder: law and order is a State subject.

— AITC (@AITCofficial) May 14, 2018

Why is @ANI spreading rumours and amplifying a few, sporadic, local incidents? We learn that local ANI reporters and stringers getting direct instructions from their bosses in Delhi to shame #Bengal. Agenda driven news-gathering: Derek O'Brien #PanchayatElection

— AITC (@AITCofficial) May 14, 2018

As poll violence-related deaths continues, another TMC worker has reportedly succumbed to injuries in Nadia's Nakashipara, taking the toll to seven.

Hitting out at opposition parties for "derailing polls", TMC leader Partha Chatterjee says, "Opposition party leaders are responsible for violence across the state. A TMC leader was killed. We believe in fair polls and, therefore, we got our own leader arrested for indulging in clashes in Bhangar area in South 24 Parganas." 

Meanwhile, BJP Union minister Babul Supriyo blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress government for the poll violence and demanded President's rule.

Not surprised by all the incidents that are happening since morning. Bengal govt is a shameless govt, you cannot expect them to follow any kind of constitutional behaviour. I demand President's Rule in WB: Babul Supriyo, Union Min on violence in various during #PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/ElEr4OSbaf

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

Hitting out at CPI(M) and BJP over panchayat poll violence, TMC MP Derek O'Brien tweets, "CPI(M) and BJP are now so desperate that they are even ganging up with Maoists to kill/ shoot/ stab three Trinamool workers in different incidents in Bengal today."

To all 'newborn' experts on Bengal #PanchayatElections in State have a history. 400 killed in poll violence in 1990s in CPIM rule. 2003: 40 dead.Every death is a tragedy. Now closer to normal than earlier times.Yes, few dozen incidents. Say,40 out of 58000 booths. What's %age ?

— Derek O'Brien (@derekobrienmp) May 14, 2018

CPI(M) and BJP are now so desperate that they are even ganging up with Maoists to kill/shoot/stab three Trinamool workers in different incidents in #Bengal today. Deliberately trying to foment trouble. Is this democracy? #PanchayatElection

— Derek O'Brien (@derekobrienmp) May 14, 2018

বুথ দখলে অভিযুক্ত তৃণমূল, নিজেই ছাপ্পা ভোট দিচ্ছেন প্রার্থী

TMC accused of capturing booth in Burdwanhttps://t.co/vDGJkbyYJZ pic.twitter.com/zIAs9eIOMa

— News18Bangla (@News18Bengali) May 14, 2018

As voting closes in booth number 36 of Burdwan district's Goyalpokar, a polling officer says that more security should have been provided, and separate queues for men and women should have been made. Only one police officer was appointed at the booth.

#WATCH: Clashes between BJP and CPI(M) workers in Durgapur. #WestBengal #PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/FXzXFLXynz

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

One woman candidate of BJP was allegedly beaten up at a booth in Duttapukur area of 24 North Parganas district's Kadmbagachi when she was trying to enter a booth. The miscreants also "threatened to kill" her.

#WestBengal: Five local journalists injured after violence, following booth capturing in Birpara, allegedly by TMC workers. #PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/qv18fyEAhy

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

#WestBengal: Five local journalists injured after violence, following booth capturing in Birpara, allegedly by TMC workers. #PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/qv18fyEAhy

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

Highly condemnable & deplorable, it signifies that culture of political violence under TMC has engulfed entire #WestBengal & it is an alarming sign for democracy: Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP on violence during #PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/Qvjk3iZCIK

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

The loss of lives continue in West Bengal as a sixth person has died. A student, identified as Soujit Pramanik, was alleged lynched to death by villagers in Nadia district's Shantipur. The deceased, who was associated with TMC, had reportedly gone to capture a booth along with two workers, which enraged the local residents. His family claims that he had joined TMC "in hope of bagging a job".

At least 20 people have been injured after a crude bomb explosion in Amdanga's Sadhanpur in North 24 Parganas, reports news agency ANI.

Enraged over an attempt to disrupt the process of democracy by political activists, villagers beat a work for booth capturing in Kanksa in Durgapur. The worker is reportedly from TMC. Meanwhile, 26% of voting has been recorded till 11 am.

Ballot papers thrown in a pond after a clash that broke out between TMC and BJP workers in Murshidabad, following which voting has been stopped.

#WestBengal: Ballot papers thrown in a pond after a clash that broke out between TMC & BJP in Murshidabad. Following which voting has been stopped for now. #PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/0kcQSz4izl

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018

Booth number 180 of North 24 Parganas's Amdanga Panchpota has been allegedly captured and people are not being allowed to vote. A CPI(M) was also killed during bombing in the area and two others were injured. Another TMC worker, Arif Ali, was shot dead in South 24 Parganas, while a BJP worker was killed in Murshidabad.

As clashes broke between Congress and BJP workers in Malda district's Ratua, a group of voters approached media personnel and said that miscreants were roaming with pistols and a man, who had gone out to vote, was held at gunpoint by them. They said that they are forced to "boycott" voting as it is "unsafe" for them to go to violence-hit booths.

A girl in her 20s was injured by an arrow in East Midnapore district's Keshpur as bombing and violence continues in the area. TMC polling agents were also allegedly beaten up. Enraged at political parties for disrupting polling, villagers set afire several motorcycles of political workers in Nadia.

RECAP | Two days before the panchayat election in the state, police arrested three persons including two BJP leaders for allegedly possessing Rs 10 lakh in cash in the district. Superintendent of Police Avaru Rabindranath said the three were arrested from a hotel here and the unaccounted cash has been seized. The arrested persons included BJP Jalpaiguri district secretary Shubhankar Ghosh and Alipurduar district leader Raju Ghosh. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said the money belonged to the party and it would be informed to the state Election Commission.

[IN PICS] Around 12.2% voting has been recorded in #BengalPanchayatPolls even as political violence continues to spread. Bengal development minister Rabindranath Ghosh slaps a worker at Natabari booth. State election commission seeks report#LIVE: https://t.co/Wm4fJiuy28 pic.twitter.com/UiYW5HdAlE

— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 14, 2018

"I have not slapped him. I just tried to stop him as he was trying to escape with ballot box," TMC Minister Rabindranath Ghosh tells CNN-News18.

#BengalPanchayatPolls -- I have not slapped him. I just tried to stop him as he was trying to escape with ballot box: TMC Minister Rabindranath Ghosh tells CNN-News18#LIVE: https://t.co/dY896nnxXI pic.twitter.com/O3EPjlIqtu

— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 14, 2018

BJP workers allegedly chop off a finger of TMC worker, while 14 Trinamool members were beaten up by saffron party leaders in Nandigram's Satengabari. Transport Minister Subhendu Adhikari blamed BJP for the clash, adding that the situation is under control presently and "TMC will win by a huge margin".

Bengal development minister Rabindranath Ghosh slaps a worker at Natabari booth. State election commission seeks report.