KOLKTA, July 12 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced compensation to each of the relatives of those killed in the violence during the state’s panchayat elections of Rs 2,000 each.
Banerjee also advertised the job of house keeper for one member from each of the families of the deceased.
“Political affiliations will not be a criteria for offering compensation or employment,” the first minister told reporters.
However, there is still confusion about the exact number of victims killed in election-related violence. According to Banerjee, 19 people were killed on polling day on Saturday (8 July) whose families will be compensated.
But according to records, the death toll since the polling date was announced on June 8 is 44. As of July 7, 19 deaths had been reported, while 24 others had died since then.
As of Wednesday, two people have succumbed to their injuries. Sheikh Rahesh, a Congress worker from Sagardeghi in Murshidabad district, and Sheikh Mufizuddin, a Trinamol worker from Chanchal in Malda district, were injured on polling day and were taken to hospital. They both died on Wednesday afternoon.
Commenting on the violence linked to the polls, Banerjee said West Bengal is being deliberately being shown in a bad light as sporadic incidents of violence are blown out of proportion.
“The elections were held in more than 71,000 booths, and violent incidents were reported from a maximum of 60 booths. Even the violence there was designed to show the country in a bad light. In states like Tripura and Uttar Pradesh, conditions are even worse on polling days.”
– Jans
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