At least nine people died in violence during elections to three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions in West Bengal. Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purkayastha on Monday claimed that the death toll and violence was "far lesser than in the past", IANS reported.

"We wanted the elections to be peaceful and tried to ensure that no deaths occur in poll violence. Unfortunately, some people died. However, the death toll and violence recorded in Monday's panchayat elections is far lesser than previous PRI polls," Mr Purkayastha said at the State Secretariat Nabanna.