EC bans entry of politicians in Cooch Behar for 3 days after poll related clashes

April 10: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday banned political leaders from entering West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district for the next three days. Meanwhile, four people were killed over there during the 4th phase of the Assembly Election. The “silence period” for the next phase of voting in the state, the fifth phase which is on April 17, too has been extended to 72 hours from 48 hours, thus cutting the campaign period.

The ECI also defended the alleged firing by the troops of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and said that it became “absolutely necessary” to save the lives of the other poll officials present at the duty in Cooch Behar.