12 dead in clashes between rival groups

Twelve people were killed yesterday in clashes between rival political groups vying for village council seats in eastern India, police said.

Ballot boxes were set ablaze and gunshots fired in West Bengal state, which has a history of fractious politics and polling violence.

Anuj Sharma, a senior state police officer, said violence began almost as soon as voting got underway in the "panchayat" elections, the most local tier of governance in India.

"Crude bombs were found near several polling booths in the districts," Sharma said.

Twelve people were killed, he said, while five local journalists were injured trying to cover the melee.

A media vehicle was damaged in clashes in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas district. The police had to use tear gas to control the mob. There were reports from firing in the area.

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party blamed West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress Party for the deadly clashes.

The Trinamool party, led by firebrand Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, sought to play down the violence.

"Every death is a tragedy," Derek O'Brien, a Trinamool leader, wrote on Twitter.

"Yes, few dozen incidents. Say, 40 out of 58000 booths. What's (the) percentage?"

More than 60,000 security personnel from West Bengal and neighbouring states were deployed to oversee security for the polls.

The panchayat polls are the last major elections to be witnessed by the state before Lok Sabha elections in 2019.