July 26, 2013
The fifth and last phase of the West Bengal Panchayat polls were held peacefully
The fifth and the last phase of the West Bengal panchayat polls passed peacefully on 25th July, Thursday at 4 districts of Bengal, namely South Dinajpur, North Dinajpur, Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri.
In South Dinajpur district the district magistrate, Mr D D Goswami said that 78 per cent of the votes were polled till 5 p.m. “However, polling still continues at some booths, especially in the Hili border area and in Harirampur block,“ he said. Long queues were seen at numerous booths in all the eight blocks of the district – Balurghat, Gangarampur, Bangshihari, Tapan, Kushmandi, Hili, Harirampur and Kumarganj. Four companies of CRPF had been deployed in the district for ensuring peace during the polls for 18 zilla parishad, 190 panchayat samiti and 1,002 gram panchayat seats in the district.
Rural poll in Cooch Behar district was held peacefully. Voters` turnout was recorded over 72 per cent till 5 p.m. The district magistrate, Mr Mohan Gandhi, said “voters` turn out might increase from 72 per cent because there were still long queues of voters in many polling stations till 7.30 p.m. “ According to Mr Mohan Gandhi, 50 per cent of 17 company Central forces were deployed in polling stations and the rest of them were deployed in sector offices to maintain law and order.
Panchayat polls in Jalpaiguri district was peaceful and over 70 per cent people cast their votes up to 5 p.m. today. The district magistrate, Ms Smaraki Mahapatra, said: “Voters` turn-out was recorded at 70 per cent at 5 p.m. and the percentage of polling would cross 80 per cent because still there are long queues in several polling stations in this district.“ A total of 16 companies of Central forces were allotted. The district administration deployed Central forces in multiple polling stations. The rest of the Central forces were deployed in sector offices and other places to maintain law and order. The district magistrate, Ms Mahapatra, said polling would continue till midnight. Central forces were deployed in many areas so that polling personnel return safely with the ballot boxes.
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