CPM,Cong clash; 100 injured

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 19: More than 100 people have been injured in post panchayat poll clashes between the CPI-M and the Congress in Malda district as each side continues to blame the other for the hostilities.The Congress MLA from Araidanga Mrs Sabitri Mitra alleged that CPI-M activists captured many polling stations and rigged votes with help from the administration and the police. “In a few places, the CPI-M workers snatched ballots and dumped those in the Mahananda river,” she added.According to Mrs Mitra, some polling officials could not complete polling on time. “About mid night they announced that polling would continue in the morning but when the tired voters went off to sleep, the polling officials left the polling premises. Under the situation, we have demanded a second polling in more than 10 polling stations including five polling stations in Araidanga Assembly constituency in Ratua II,” she said.Conversely, the CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra alleged that 25 CPI-M activists were injured by Congress supporters. Congress workers attacked and kidnapped Mr Sadiqul Islam and Ajijur Rahaman last evening and confined them in a house at Rajapur in Ratua II area. The driver of their vehicle was missing over few hours. Finally the police rescued them,” Mr Moitra said. The Congress leader Mrs Mitra denied the charges and said: “Mr Islam was attacked by rival CPI-M people over the issue of nomination.”The CPI-M district secretary further alleged that the Congress workers had attacked CPI-M polling agents and captured several polling stations in Ratua I, and II, Harichandrapur I and II and other blocks. “Failing to resist the atrocities of the Congress workers many polling agents had to leave the polling stations. We have demanded a second polling in 20 polling stations,” he added.