Political violence occurred in a number of districts across Bengal on Thursday as representatives of various parties who won in the panchayats or the lowest tier of the three-tier panchayat system in the July 8 rural polls reached their respective panchayat offices to form boards.

The Telegraph reports the highlights of the incidents.

Where: Furfura panchayat, Jangipara, Hooghly.

Incident: At least six persons, including a senior police officer, got injured in a clash between cops and ISF supporters over the formation of the panchayat board. The situation in Furfura turned volatile after unidentified persons locked the gram panchayat office apparently to hold up the formation of the board. In the rural body, Trinamul won 25 of 29 seats.

ISF MLA Nawsad Siddique on Thursday alleged that police threw bricks at his house and burst a teargas shell. ISF supporters then allegedly hurled bombs at the police. The police retaliated with teargas shells and charged them with batons. Five persons were arrested for creating trouble and attacking the police. The board, however, was formed in due course.

What parties say: The ISF MLA accused the police of targeting his home and Trinamul of perpetrating violence. A local Trinamul leader said ISF workers instigated the violence to stop the formation of the board.

Where: Babupur panchayat, Gazole, Malda.

Incident: In 12 seats of the panchayat, Trinamul bagged 5 seats while the CPM, the Congress, and BJP won three, two, and one seats respectively. An Independent also won a seat.

On Thursday, workers of the Jharkhand Disom Party who had backed the CPM candidates, and supporters of some other parties barring Trinamul, reached the panchayat office with bows and arrows. The JDP alleged that an elected CPM candidate was missing and was abducted by Trinamul. Trinamul claimed that the candidate has joined their party.

As the police intervened, they got into a scuffle. The Opposition alleged that the police had resorted to lathi-charge. The police alleged that the JDP and some others attacked them. Around 20 persons, including cops and political workers, got injured. The demonstrators locked up the police and administrative officials in a room at the panchayat office. Till late evening, the board had not been formed.

What parties say: Opposition parties claimed that Trinamul was trying to grab the panchayat forcibly. Trinamul denied the charges.

Where: Kamalabari-II panchayat, Raiganj, North Dinajpur.

Incident: In the 17-seat rural body, the BJP secured nine seats, Trinamul seven and Congress one. On Thursday, as the meeting started at the office to form the board, BJP leaders alleged that Sona Toppo, a Trinamul candidate, suddenly snatched the winning certificate of a BJP candidate, tore up the paper, chewed it and gulped it.

As the news spread, BJP supporters resorted to a demonstration. Cops controlled the situation. Eventually, the saffron party could form the board.

What parties say: Dulal Sarkar of the BJP said that while the election of the pradhan was in progress, Trinamul's Toppo suddenly snatched the certificate from one of their members, tore it up, chewed it and swallowed it. "Still, Trinamul couldn’t stop us from forming the board," Sarkar said. Toppo denied she did anything of the sort. She claimed the BJP was planning to evade the election for the pradhan’s post, which is why Trinamul had protested.

Where: Kishorpur-I panchayat, Khanakul, Hooghly.

Incident: Suspected Trinamul supporters ransacked the vehicle of Sushanta Ghosh, the BJP MLA of Khanakul, on Thursday. Ghosh, sources said, had gone near the panchayat office to monitor the oath-taking ceremony of BJP candidates when his vehicle was attacked. The panchayat has 13 seats of which Trinamul won eight while five went to the BJP. After Thursday's alleged attack, the BJP demonstrated in front of Khanakul police station.

What parties say: Ghosh, the MLA, alleged that a group of Trinamul supporters attacked his vehicle. Stones were also pelted which left some BJP supporters injured, he said. Trinamul leaders, however, have denied the charge.

Where: Dhubulia -I panchayat, Krishnanagar-II Block, Nadia.

Incident: A little after the BJP formed the board, the newly elected pradhan Goutam Sarkar was reportedly abducted by persons with suspected Trinamul links when he was going home. BJP supporters blocked NH12 at two points from 1pm for six hours. In the evening, the police found Sarkar at Krishnagar government hospital. He alleged Trinamul goons thrashed him to make him defect. As he was being searched for, they dumped him at the hospital, he said. Sarkar was later admitted to a nursing home in Ranaghat.

Of the 21 seats here, the BJP got 11, Trinamul seven and the CPM two.

What parties said: Mahadeb Sarkar, a state BJP leader, said Trinamul abducted their winning candidate to grab power in the panchayat. Trinamul leaders have refuted the allegation and said Sarkar's disappearance was the fallout of the BJP’s internal strife.

Where: Najirhat-II panchayat, Dinhata-II block, Cooch Behar.

Incident: As the election for the pradhan’s post started, the BJP and Trinamul members started to clash, sources said. The BJP accused a Trinamul member of snatching their ballots and rigging the polls by stamping on all the ballots. Supporters of both parties attacked each other. Crude bombs were lobbed.

Udayan Guha, the north Bengal development minister who is from Dinhata, went to the site of the violence. BJP supporters lobbed crude bombs at his convoy while he was on his way back home, Guha alleged. Trinamul supporters shouted slogans, demanding the attackers be arrested. Cops brought the situation under control. Of the 19 seats, Trinamul won 12 seats and formed the board on Thursday. The BJP won seven.

What parties say: The BJP accused Trinamul of rigging the polls. Trinamul denied the charge and accused the BJP of fomenting tension in the area.