Voters wait to cast their ballots in state assembly elections at a polling station at a polling station in Kolkata on April 30, 2016. (AFP Photo)
Amid sporadic incidents of violence which left seven persons injured, over 57 per cent of the electorate cast their votes till 1 pm today in the fifth and penultimate phase of the assembly polls in West Bengal.
Till 1 pm, voter turnout of 59.83 per cent was recorded from Hooghly district, 58.24 per cent in South 24 Parganas while Kolkata South had the lowest turnout with 46.35 per cent.
The Election Commission said the overall average turnout was 57.10 per cent.
The poll panel has ordered filing of an FIR against Trinamool Congress sitting MLA and candidate Sonali Guha after she was caught on camera allegedly ordering party workers to beat CPI-M polling agents in her Satgachia constituency.
Six persons were injured in poll violence in South 24 Parganas while one injury was reported from Hooghly.
Four RSP workers were injured in a clash with TMC supporters at a booth in Bhangonkhali village in Basanti constituency after TMC activists allegedly prevented them from casting votes, a police officer said.
The injured were taken to Basanti hospital, he added.
A report from Canning in South 24 Parganas said two persons were injured as central force jawans resorted to lathi charge to disperse clashing Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) supporters in front of a booth in Kathaliya village under Bhangar constituency.
The two injured were rushed to Bhangar hospital, the officer said.
Trinamool Congress candidate from Bhangar, Rezzak Mollah rushed to the spot and was involved in an altercation with the central forces following the incident, the officer said.
A report from Chinsurah in Hooghly district said a villager, N Babu, sustained head injury when he was allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters at Puin village in Arambag constituency for casting his vote.
He was rushed to Arambag sub-divisional hospital.
Police have arrested one TMC supporter in the incident. In Bahareshole village in Goghat constituency in Hooghly district, Forward Bloc candidate Bishwanath Tarak complained to the EC that he was pushed allegedly by TMC supporters who had gathered in front of a booth.
The central forces swung into action and dispersed the TMC supporters.