By Rittick Mondal: Fresh post-poll violence erupted in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district after clashes broke out between two groups, resulting in three individuals sustaining injuries. The ruling Trinamool Congress has claimed that the violence was instigated when an independent candidate and his supporters assaulted one of their female candidates, who had faced defeat.
Dozens of people have been injured as post-poll clashes continued in the state, weeks after state-wide local elections ended.
The TMC alleged that their candidate Paruli Lashkar (Kanthalberia gram panchayat) was beaten by the supporters of an independent candidate. Paruli Lashkar has been admitted to the Canning sub-division hospital and her condition is said to be critical.
She was allegedly attacked after losing the panchayat election to an independent candidate in the recently-concluded poll. However, the independent candidate’s husband, Bablu Lashkar, denied the allegations and said clashes erupted due to family disputes.
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On the other hand, the supporters of independent candidate also alleged that they were attacked by the TMC workers. Two supporters of the independent candidate are admitted to a healthcare centre and their condition is also critical.
Both the parties have filed police complaints against each other and an investigation is underway.
In another incident, four candidates who won the panchayat elections in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district alleged that they were kidnapped by supporters of the TMC, a charge denied by the state’s ruling party.
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