West Bengal panchayat polls: 72% turnout; violence claims 12 lives; updates

West Bengal DGP, Surajit Kar Purkayastha confirmed the death of over 12 people in the violence. Catch the latest developments here

The single-phase West Bengal panchayat election concluded at 5 pm in the evening on Monday with 72.5 per cent total voter turnout percentage, said State Election Commission. However, the number may rise as 450,000 voters were still lined up in the queue outside the polling booths to cast their vote across several parts of the violence-ridden state, news agency PTI reported.

Speaking on the unprecedented violence marring the panchayat election procedures, West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP), Surajit Kar Purkayastha confirmed the death of over 12 people in the violence.

He said, “12 people died, out of which, the