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Sixteen die in violent India poll

by Sanjay Jha | May 19, 2008 at 12:42 am | 73 views | add comment

In one of the bloodiest election violence in eastern India at least 16 people have died. The violence took place in the local level election in Murshidabad district. The death were caused by attacks on polling booths.

Sixteen people have died in clashes during Sunday's village council polls in India's West Bengal state.
The district of Murshidabad, on the border with Bangladesh, was worst affected with 15 deaths.
Officials say most of the deaths were caused by attacks on polling booths or on houses of supporters of rival political parties.
Thirty people have died in violent three-phase village council elections in the state this month.
Armed ruling Marxist and opposition supporters have fought pitched battles with bombs and firearms.
Subir Bhadra, a senior official of Murshidabad district said some villagers died after they were caught in the crossfire.