Panchayat Election 2023: Violence rocks West Bengal, death toll mounts
The Panchayat elections in West Bengal turned violent, resulting in at least 14 deaths and widespread chaos. Incidents included ballot boxes being set on fire in Dinhata's Baranachina area, a person fleeing with a ballot box in Hooghly, and a BJP candidate allegedly throwing water into a ballot box in Cooch Behar's Dinhata. Unidentified miscreants vandalized polling centers, and in Cooch Behar's Sibeswar village, they seized a booth after carrying weapons. TMC supporters openly brandished guns and threatened an independent candidate in Barrackpore. A polling officer in Malda fled after a clash, while BJP workers protested against violence in Kolkata.