An estimated 45 percent of the electorate cast their vote till 1 PM in the bypoll to six assembly seats in West Bengal and a TMC block level leader was shot dead at Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas, official sources said on Wednesday.
TMC leader and Bhatpara’s 12 Ward block former president Asoke Shaw was shot dead by three unidentified miscreants this morning.
The miscreants fired Shaw from close range and hurled bombs when the victim was sitting at a tea stall.
Shaw was taken to the Bhatpara State General hospital and then shiftedto Barracpore hospital where he succummed to his bullet wounds, borther of Asoke Shaw told reporters.
Superintendent of Police Asoke Rajoria said they were investigating the incident even as the police personnel have been deployed to restore peace in the area.
The TMC supporters also protested at the Jagatdal police station, accusing the police of alleged failure to stop the crime in the industrial belt of Barracpore region, particularly at Bhatpara.
The incident happened around 0930 hours close to Naihati assembly segment where the bypoll was in progress.
The poll officials directed the authorities to keep a watch in the area in the wake of shooting and hurling of crude bombs this morning.
One container bomb was recovered from the scene of crime after it did not explode, sources said. The bomb squad arrived to defuse the bomb.
An eye witness said some youths arrived near to them and shot from the fire arms in which one of them fell on the spot. The eye witness, who is a septuagenarian, also received splinter wounds. He was taken to the hospital and was discharged after treatment.
He said the miscreants also hurled bombs in which he was injured.
Election sources said about 45.53 percent voting was recorded till 1 PM in six assembly constituencies so far.
Besides Naihati Assembly Constituency (39.47 pc), bypoll is being held in Madarihat (ST46.18), Sitai SC (45), Taldangra (48), ,Haroa (47.10) and Medinipur (46.24) Assembly constituencies where 108 companies of central forces have been deployed.
Sources said barring some incidents of intimidation and counter threats and rigging, the polling was overall peaceful so far.
