At least three more lives were lost in post-poll violence on Sunday, with the violence related to Saturday's rural polls refusing to abate.

According to conservative estimates, the rural poll-related casualty count since the announcement of the polls now stands at 43. After 22 deaths since the nomination-filing process began, till last Friday, Saturday’s vote day saw 18 deaths. On Sunday, two deaths took place in South 24-Parganas and one in Malda.

State election commissioner Rajiva Sinha claimed on Sunday that the total casualty count through the election process stood at 10.

The three deaths on Sunday were of Trinamul supporters or workers, taking the total death toll claimed by the ruling party to at least 20.

Azahar Laskar, 61, a Trinamul supporter from Radharanipur of Basanti in South 24-Parganas, succumbed to his injuries at a Calcutta-based hospital on Sunday. He, along with five other Trinamul supporters, was allegedly beaten up by suspected RSP supporters near a polling station under the Jyotishpur panchayat during voting on Saturday.

The body of Abu Salem Khan, 52, a Trinamul supporter from the Paschim Gabtala area of Kultali in South 24-Parganas, was recovered by police on Sunday. He was missing since Saturday afternoon. Police said he had bullet wounds besides other injury marks. The local Trinamul leadership accused the CPM.

“Khan was mobilising supporters to vote for us. Goons with allegiance to the CPM abducted him, killed him and dumped the body near the polling station. His body was spotted much later,” said Yamin Mistry, Jalaberia II Trinamul panchayat committee chief.

In Malda, Matiur Rehman, 45, also a Trinamul worker, died after being stabbed by suspected Congress supporters. A resident of Bhagabanpur, he was standing near a booth with party workers when goons attacked them. Rehman received stab wounds in the abdomen. Rushed to a local health centre, he died on Sunday.

A vehicle set ablaze at Rampur-Chakulia road in North Dinajpur on Sunday by protesters who alleged highhandedness by goons during Saturday’s polling Picture by Kousik Sen

The local leadership of the accused parties have denied any role in the three deaths.

In Jagaballabhpur of Howrah, the house of the brother of Independent candidate Sheikh Shafiqul Islam was set ablaze allegedly by Trinamul supporters.

On Sunday, tension gripped several areas in violence-hit Murshidabad such as Hariharpara, Salar, and Samserganj, as goons allegedly backed by various political parties hurled bombs and fired indiscriminately.

An SUCI worker was beaten up allegedly by the husband of a Trinamul candidate. Bombs were hurled during a clash between the supporters of Independent candidates and Trinamul candidates in Hiranandapur and Samserganj.

In Howrah’s Amta-II, Independent panchayat samiti candidate Samsuddin Khan’s house in Sharda village was ransacked allegedly by Trinamul supporters. Samsuddin, the elder brother of slain student activist Anish Khan, had to flee home and take shelter at an undisclosed place. His father, Salem Khan, accused the police of not extending any help. "Repeated calls to the Amta police station remained unanswered," he said.

In Islampur of North Dinajpur, deputy superintendent of police Bipul Banerjee was injured in the head by a stone and his vehicle vandalised amid a political clash. Cops were tight-lipped about details.

Several houses were ransacked and over a dozen people were injured during a clash between CPM and Trinamul supporters in Rampur of Amdanga in North 24-Parganas since Saturday night.

BJP supporters also clashed with police and Trinamul supporters in Srikrishnapur area of Nandakumar of East Midnapore, accusing the ruling party of malpractice inside a strongroom.

Over 100 Congress supporters, along with district leaders, raised a blockade on NH12 at Malda's Rathbari for around 45 minutes to demand repolls in several booths. The blockade was withdrawn after the police intervened.

Humayun's statement

Former IPS officer and Trinamul MLA Humayun Kabir on Sunday went against the party line and slammed the administration over the state of lawlessness.

“I am ashamed as a Bengali, and deeply pained to see what has happened during the polls. My head hangs in shame,” he said.

Holding all political parties responsible for the violence, Kabir said: “I am aggrieved and angry…. I don’t know how long such an unhealthy culture of violence will continue.”

Trinamul Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen pointed out half the victims were affiliated to the ruling party.

“This proves who perpetrated the violence and who was at the receiving end. Opposition parties joined hands to attack our people,” said Sen.

BJP state unit chief Sukanta Majumdar squarely blamed Trinamul. "People will give them a fitting response in the Lok Sabha polls next year,” he said.