79.22% Voter Turnout in Phase 3 of West Bengal Polls

New Delhi: Phase III of assembly polls in 62 constituencies of West Bengal today witnessed a series of clashes between political rivals during which bombs were exploded but the violence failed to deter the electors who came out in large numbers, recording a 79.22 per cent voter turnout.

The Election Commission said that the turnout could be more as the figures were based on text messages sent by polling officials from the field till 5 pm.

Deputy Election Commission in charge of West Bengal Sandeep Saxena said while one person was found murdered near a polling station, nine others were injured in clashes between political rivals during which crude bombs were used.

When asked whether the incidents of violence were the highest in this phase, he said the Commission "cannot compare" the number of incidents in each phase.

Referring to the incidents of violence, Saxena said a man identified as Tahirul Islam was found dead with a sharp cut on his face about 400 meters from polling station number 176 of Domkal assembly seat. According to a Kolkata report, he was a CPI-M supporter.

Saxena said it is not immediately clear whether it was a poll-related death.

In another area of the same constituency, four people were hurt, two of them seriously, in a clash between rival political workers for which 25 people have been detained.

Three other incidents of clashes were also reported from Burdwan in which crude bombs were used.

A Trinamool Congress leader Anwar Khan was arrested after he defied a house arrest order for allegedly provoking party workers against Election Commission officials.

An ex-MP, Manan Hussian who was earlier with Congress and is now with the ruling Trinamool Congress, was found violating the model code as he was present in a constituency of which he is not a member. As per electoral laws, politicians of another constituency are not allowed to enter another 48 hours before the commencement of polling.

Saxena said in the 2011 assembly polls, the voter turnout stood at 84.83 per cent, while it was 81.80 per cent in the Lok Sabha polls in these constituencies.