Kolkata, Nov 13: A block-level leader of the Trinamool Congress was shot dead at Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas, official sources said on Wednesday.
An estimated 45% of the electorate cast their vote till 1 PM in the bypoll to six assembly seats in West Bengal.
TMC leader and Bhatpara’s 12 Ward block former president Asoke Shaw was shot dead by three unidentified miscreants 0n Wednesday 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 shifted to Barrackpore hospital where he succummed to his bullet wounds.
SP 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.
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.
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.
Photo sourced
