16.68 per cent voter turnout till 9 am in WB

Polling at eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal remained "peaceful" as 16.68 per cent of 1,33,69,749 voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of voting during the sixth phase on Sunday, an election official said.

Polling is underway in Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram (ST), Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur (SC) constituencies.

"Polling is very peaceful. It is going fine. Our officials are keeping a close watch on the polling process," he said.

There were, however, reports of attack on BJP's Ghatal candidate, former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh, when she tried to enter a polling booth in Keshpur.

Ghosh's convoy was also attacked afterwards when locals started pelting stones after she tried to enter another polling station and one of her security guards was injured.

"This is not for the first time that Bharati Ghosh was attacked. Since the TMC failed to stop her politically, it is trying to physically harm her," BJP state president Dilip ...