Rival student groups clashed during the elections.
Violence and chaos marked the college union elections in West Bengal's Malda district with students openly flashing and firing guns despite the TV cameras around.
Polling began at 10 am today at Sultanganj College in Malda, over 300 km from Kolkata. Around 1.30 pm, supporters, allegedly of the Trinamool Chattra Parishad, blocked the gate and would not allow the CPM-backed Student Federation of India and the Congress-backed Chattra Parishad students to cast their votes.
That resulted in a chaotic clash between the rival student groups during which at least two persons were captured on cameras pulling out pistols and firing. Locals claim the gun-wielding men were from the Trinamool but party leaders have denied that.
Locals also claimed that SFI and Chattra Parishad students also probably had arms but could not use them because they were outnumbered. However, SFI supporters are believed to have hurled several bombs.
Sources say at least three people were injured, one by a bullet, in the clash. But the police denied any injuries. A senior cop, however, said raids were on to catch the culprits.
Trouble also broke out in the neighbouring Chachol College in Malda where the police had to resort to baton-charge to bring the situation under control.