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| Sixteen die in violent India poll | Sixteen die in violent India poll |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Sixteen people have died in clashes during Sunday's village council polls in India's West Bengal state. | Sixteen people have died in clashes during Sunday's village council polls in India's West Bengal state. |
| The district of Murshidabad, on the border with Bangladesh, was worst affected with 15 deaths. | The district of Murshidabad, on the border with Bangladesh, was worst affected with 15 deaths. |
| Officials say most of the deaths were caused by attacks on polling booths or on houses of supporters of rival political parties. | Officials say most of the deaths were caused by attacks on polling booths or on houses of supporters of rival political parties. |
| Thirty people have died in violent three-phase village council elections in the state this month. | |
| Armed ruling Marxist and opposition supporters have fought pitched battles with bombs and firearms. | Armed ruling Marxist and opposition supporters have fought pitched battles with bombs and firearms. |
| Subir Bhadra, a senior official of Murshidabad district said some villagers died after they were caught in the crossfire. | Subir Bhadra, a senior official of Murshidabad district said some villagers died after they were caught in the crossfire. |
| Murshidabad and the neighbouring district of Maldah, both Muslim-majority districts, are opposition Congress party strongholds. | Murshidabad and the neighbouring district of Maldah, both Muslim-majority districts, are opposition Congress party strongholds. |
| 'Reign of terror' | 'Reign of terror' |
| Bengal's ruling Marxists appeared determined this time on to wrest as many village councils from the Congress party as possible. | Bengal's ruling Marxists appeared determined this time on to wrest as many village councils from the Congress party as possible. |
| "The Marxists unleashed state terrorism on our people and we had to fight back," alleged Adhir Choudhury, Congress party MP from Murshidabad. | "The Marxists unleashed state terrorism on our people and we had to fight back," alleged Adhir Choudhury, Congress party MP from Murshidabad. |
| The Marxists accused Choudhury and his supporters of "starting a reign of terror". | The Marxists accused Choudhury and his supporters of "starting a reign of terror". |
| Most of those who died were hits by bomb splinters and bullets while standing in the queue to vote. | Most of those who died were hits by bomb splinters and bullets while standing in the queue to vote. |
| Police says they anticipate violence during the counting and the declaration of results. | Police says they anticipate violence during the counting and the declaration of results. |
| "This election witnessed a free-for-all. In many places , the fight was between the Left and the non-Left but in some places, there was fighting amongst the Left parties," said political analyst Rajat Roy. | "This election witnessed a free-for-all. In many places , the fight was between the Left and the non-Left but in some places, there was fighting amongst the Left parties," said political analyst Rajat Roy. |
| "This is perhaps the most vicious village council polls in Bengal in recent memory, because all parties used brute force." | "This is perhaps the most vicious village council polls in Bengal in recent memory, because all parties used brute force." |
| The village councils are source of political power in West Bengal, hence there is more violence during these polls than during those for parliament of state assembly. | The village councils are source of political power in West Bengal, hence there is more violence during these polls than during those for parliament of state assembly. |
| During the one-day 2003 polls, 19 people were killed in clashes. | During the one-day 2003 polls, 19 people were killed in clashes. |