။ West Bengal Lok Sabha Poll ။ 2nd Day

West Bengal registers 64% polling

Kolkata, 30 April : The Left citadel of West Bengal registered a 64 percent voter turnout in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies by Thursday evening. But the largely peaceful poll was marred by a landmine blast, triggered by suspected Maoists, that injured two security personnel.'There was around 64 percent polling till 5 pm. But the figure will go up as people were still queuing up to vote' by the closing time, state chief electoral officer Debasish Sen told reporters here, describing the election as 'peaceful and secure'.

>

Maoists trigger landmine blast in Jamboni, 3 died

Jamboni (West Midnapore), 30 April : A landmine blast triggered by the Maoists claimed the lives of three persons, including two polling officials in West Midnapore district Today.The blast, which took place at around 6:00 pm in Jamboni region of West Midnapore district of the state, was triggered using a remote device. The blast was aimed at the polling officials returning from election duty under the security of paramilitary personnel. Two polling officials and the driver were killed in the blast.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

။ Lalgarh & Belpahari, 30 April :

A paramilitary soldier stands guard as voters queue up at a polling station in Lalgarh. ။ Photo : PTI

(Left) An armoured vehicle of India's Border Security Force (BSF) passes a buffalo cart during polling at Belpahari village, about 185 km west of Kolkata. ။ Photo : Reuters

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Polling fails to kick off in Naxalite hit areas in Bengal

Kolkata, Midnapore, 30 April : The spectre of Maoist violence was literally stalking the first phase Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal today as polling could not start in most of the special booths in Naxal-dominated areas in West Midnapore due to high tension. A large number of cans looking like landmines were recovered from Pirakata forest by the side of the Pirakata special booth. In all, 20 cars and busses carrying Central forces along with polling personnel had been stopped near Laljal by the PCAPA activists not allowing them to proceed further. Polling personnel for Laljal booths had been denied to proceed further towards their booths apprehending greater trouble. The entire tribal belt of Belpahari, Banspahari, Lalgarh, Jamboni, Bhulaveda, Goaltore and Salboni was worst hit by the Naxalite menace.