The single-phase panchayat elections concluded in West Bengal on Saturday, with a voter turnout of 66.28 per cent, with as many as 15 persons losing their lives in poll-related violence across the state. The maximum number of deaths was reported from Murshidabad district at five, followed by two each in Cooch Behar, East Burdwan, Malda and North Dinajpur districts, and one each in South 24 Parganas and Nadia districts.

With this, a total of 34 persons have lost their lives in poll-related violence that broke out after the announcement of the polling date on June 8. In an apparent attempt to shed responsibility for the bloodbath, State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha said, “No one can predict who will shoot whom and when. Preventing violence is the responsibility of those who are posted at the district level. The task of the commission is to make arrangements for the polls.”