Political unrest continued in several parts of Bengal even two days after the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections concluded on June 1.

With merely a few hours left for the counting to begin, reports of post-poll violence poured in from different parts of the state. The violence apparently prompted the Election Commission to keep central armed police forces deployed in the state for at least 15 more days after the counting on Tuesday.

The EC on Monday said around 400 companies of the central armed police forces (CAPF) would stay in the state till June 19. An EC official said the central forces would be primarily deployed to avert clashes in vulnerable areas.

On Monday, tension gripped Sandeshkhali as a large number of women, mostly BJP supporters, accused police of unleashing atrocities on them under the direction of the Trinamool Congress leadership.

The women, who took to the streets, alleged attacks by criminals in disguise of police at night. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC have been imposed in 17 areas of four gram panchayats on the island, including Sarberia which has become the most boiling zone since the polling day.

Tension was triggered by a police bid to raid the residence of BJP leader Amay Bhunia in connection with violence before the voting. Local people, mainly women, put up a defensive wall to prevent the police from carrying out the raid and it led to a clash.

BJP leader Archana Majumdar, who visited the island on Sunday and organised the women to protest the alleged police atrocities, said: “Police are creating tension to make passage for the goons.”

Supporters of the BJP and Trinamool clashed in the Bidhan pally area of Chinsurah in Hooghly district on Sunday night. The BJP alleged that BJP activists had beaten up its supporters.

In retaliation, BJP supporters allegedly attacked the houses of Trinamool workers in the area. The police managed to control the situation.

On Monday, two sackfuls of bombs were recovered in the Raninagar area of Murshidabad district.

In Gosaba, Trinamool supporters were accused of cutting the water pipelines of BJP workers’ homes. The BJP alleged that a little after the poll got over, criminals close to Trinamool snapped the water lines at Hazaripara in Amtali gram panchayat, Gosaba.

Trinamool has rejected the allegations.

In Kultali, Trinamool supporters allegedly attacked ISF supporters on Sunday night. In Bhangar, Trinamool supporters were beaten up allegedly by ISF activists.

In Kashipur, two Trinamool workers were beaten up by ISF supporters.

The ISF leadership alleged that at least 100 criminalssent by Trinamool had entered the Kasipur area, triggering a clash in which a fewbombs were also hurled. The police have arrested oneISF supporter and seized five motorcycles.