Kolkata/UNI: In the wake of violence at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district over filing of nomination two days back for the coming three-tier Panchayat election in West Bengal, Governor C V Ananda Bose on Saturday summoned State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rajiva Sinha to Raj Bhavan to apprise him of the situation.

Bose, who visited the violence-torn Bhangar Friday, said victory in elections should depend on the count of votes, not the count of dead bodies.

He expressed shock to hear that the death toll in pre-election in Bengal is increasing, and said, "It is revolting that the media is also under attack by the hooligans. Victory in Elections should depend on the count of votes, not the count of dead bodies.

"At any cost, violence will be eradicated and made the first casualty of this Panchayat Elections. No one, however high & mighty they fancy themselves to be, will be allowed to take the law in their hands."

Reacting to violence, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Friday alleged that democracy died a thousand deaths yesterday in West Bengal.

"In our lifetime we have seen Wars, footage from Conflict Zones, Refugee Crisis. Some disturbing images stay with us for long. The image of terrified & displaced people with "hands raised in surrender"; staring into the barrel of a gun is one such image we habitually associate with such War/Conflict Zones. "

"However, yesterday such scenes were witnessed in Bhangar; South 24 Parganas district; where Opposition Candidates went to the Nomination Centre, holding documents in their raised hands so as the Police don't fire at them. Bombs were being hurled incessantly by the TMC goons trying to scare them away & obstruct them from going towards the Nomination Centre," the BJP MLA from Nandigram stated.

Adhikari said, "Yesterday opposition candidates & party workers across party lines were shot at & beaten mercilessly across the State. Yet they marched on towards the BDO Offices (Nomination Centres), fully aware of the risks.

"They knew what might be in store, but their resolve to dethrone the corrupt & cruel TMC at the Panchayat level, was stronger than any fear. The Panchayat Elections are not mere elections in Bengal, it's a fight to unshackle the State from the strangulation of the TMC - The Most Corrupt party. "