At least nine people were killed in election-related violence in West Bengal as voting was underway on Saturday for the three-tier panchayat polls in the state, officials said.
Among those killed were five ruling Trinamool Congress members and one worker each of opposition BJP, CPI(M) and Congress and the supporter of an Independent candidate, reports our New Delhi correspondent quioting the officials.
Besides violent clashes that injured several people, ballot boxes were destroyed in at least two polling booths, they added, PTI reports.
A total of 2.06 lakh candidates are in the fray for elections to 73,887 seats for which 5.67 crore people are eligible to vote in the three-tier panchayat system in the state, they said.
