Tensions arose over the ongoing Assembly elections in the state of West Bengal after a crude bomb attack on voters on polling day in Murshidabad district injured several people. And this incident once more brought election-related violence to the public eye in the state.
“Anonymous miscreants threw sticks of crude bombs in front of a polling booth in Murshidabad, causing panic among voters and polling personnel,” this statement said. Many of them who got hurt in the explosion were immediately taken to hospitals and other medical centres for treatment.
The number of casualties has not been officially announced. Witnesses said there was havoc at the scene, with voters running away as explosions were heard. They quickly got involved and locked down the polling station with security forces. Polling was stopped temporarily in the region afflicted, then again immediately followed by strenuous security measures.
VIDEO | West Bengal Election 2026: Several people injured as unidentified people hurled crude bomb in Nowda, Murshidabad district. More details are awaited.#AssemblyPollsWithPTI#WestBengalPollsWithPTI
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/W7G5A9OqR6
Central forces were sent to protect voters and maintain order in the population. The attacks made the authorities seek to investigate and identify a few of the perpetrators. While no group has assumed formal responsibility, political tensions between major parties have been escalating during the region’s elections.
And senior officials said that the attackers would face serious consequences. “We are committed to free and fair elections. Such incidents will not be tolerated,” said a top officer. In other parts of West Bengal, especially at high-stakes election points, election violence has long plagued the state.
The Murshidabad incident brings some of the challenges authorities deal with in upholding the rule of law, and even when people try extremely hard to keep ordinary people exercising their voting rights peacefully, into sharper relief. The election is going on in phases throughout the state, with either central or local forces mobilised and Indian state forces deployed with an aggressive style over politically sensitive territory.
The political parties, such as the ruling Party, the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, have been heavily contested, and tension on the ground has spiked. Police are also urging the public to remain calm and actively participate in the democratic process. “The Election Commission is watching closely. The commission continues to take steps to prevent such an event from happening again going ahead during these next few days, after polling campaigns are completed.”
