The Hindu : National : Nandigram byelection peaceful

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Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009
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National

Nandigram byelection peaceful

Raktima Bose

NANDIGRAM: In contrast to its turbulent political history over the past two years, the byelection to the Nandigram Assembly constituency in Purbo Medinipur district of West Bengal was by and large peaceful on Monday.

The State Election Commission had deployed eight companies of the Central Reserve Police Force and seven companies of the Border Security Force to avoid any untoward incident.

Long queues were seen in front of booths since morning. Polling in some areas continued well after the stipulated hours. The turnout was more than 80 per cent.

Elaborate security arrangements were made at each booth, with security personnel frisking voters with metal detectors. Every booth had a video recording facility.

The election, however, was not entirely without any complaints. “The electronic voting machines in some of the booths were malfunctioning while many of our supporters were threatened by Communist party of India (Marxist) activists,” Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee alleged.

“An eight-year-old child and three women were seriously injured when CPI(M) men attacked them on their way to the booth,” Subhendu Adhikary, local Trinamool leader, alleged.

Sujapur poll peaceful

Byelection to the Sujapur constituency in Malda district passed off peacefully.

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