5 killed in election violence in India's West Bengal state
Indian police say five people were killed by gunfire in election-related violence at two polling stations in West Bengal state
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.At least five people were killed by gunfire in election-related violence at two polling stations in India’s West Bengal state, police said Saturday.
Security forces caused the majority of the casualties — four killed and four wounded — while trying to control a crowd outside a voting center in Cooch Behar district, said senior police officer Vishal Garg. He gave no further details on what sparked the clashes.
In a separate incident, unidentified gunmen fired at voters at a polling station in the same district, killing one person. Garg said police were investigating the attack.
Local elections in West Bengal, one of the most populous Indian states, are being held in eight phases. Voting in four Indian states and a union territory began in late March and are spread over a month. Results will be declared May 2.
The elections are seen as a crucial test for whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party can gain a foothold in the northeast and south.
West Bengal is prone to election-related violence, and people have been killed during previous elections when supporters of rival political parties clashed with one other.
Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party has never won the state, and is banking on its strong Hindu nationalist ideology to draw votes.
He and his top leaders have campaigned heavily to wrest power from the state’s firebrand chief minister, Mamata Banerjee A defeat for Banerjee, a strong Modi critic, would deal a blow to the country’s already weak opposition.
Modi’s overall popularity remains unmatched in India, but his party has faced tougher-than-expected challenges in recent state polls.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.