Man dies while standing at voting queue under sun

BALURGHAT: A middle-aged person died while waiting in the queue to cast his vote in Harirampur on Tuesday. The man identified as Pansari Soren (48), lived in Altadighi. It is suspected he died due to sunstroke.

The autopsy reports are awaited to ascertain the exact cause of death. In many places, voters were seen standing outside polling booths since the

morning to avoid the sweltering heat.

Barring a few minor incidents of clash between the supporters of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress in which seven persons from both parties were injured, polling ended peacefully at Balurghat on Tuesday.

South Dinajpur district recorded 84.4 percent polling at 6 pm. The officials said the final polling percentage may slightly go up as people stood in the queue even after 6 pm particularly in some booths located in Gangarampur, Tapan and Itahar.

In Kushmandi's Chandpur in booth no 37/128, a clash broke out between the supporters of the BJP and Trinamool Congress in which five activists were injured.

Trinamool Congress alleged the BJP-backed goons attacked their party supporter Ranjit Mondal with weapons. He has been admitted to local health centre in a serious condition. A large contingent of central force rushed to the spot to control the situation.

In Tapan's 41/148 booth and Itahar's 36/104 booth, similar clashes broke out between the BJP and TMC activists leaving one Mantu Roy, a BJP supporter injured. Police detained Shiben Barman, a TMC activist, in this connection.

Around 700 voters of three villages—Chalkmadhab, Kutubpur and Chingra under Amritakhanda GP boycotted poll as their demand of constructing a concrete road remained unheard over the past couple of years.

Local administration had also made elaborate arrangements for PWD (Persons with Disabilities) to help them cast votes.

"We had arranged 70 wheelchairs for such persons ensuring that no such voter was left out," said Mahadyuti Adhikary, district nodal officer and systematic voter's education and electoral participation.

In some booths, there was a delay in polling due to the malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting Machines. At least 25 EVMs were replaced during the day but there were no reports of poll process being hampered.

Voting had been conducted in 1305 booths while 12 candidates were in fray.