Kolkata/UNI: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose expressed grave concern on Saturday at the prevailing law and order situation during the Panchayat polling in the state.

Bose, who is taking a tour of several areas where polling is in process, expressed dissatisfaction at the orgy of violence across the state.

The governor asked, "Who will protect the protectors of democracy?"

"The Election Commission is seen nowhere, yet the Commissioner is tight-lipped, " Bose stated.

The governor said he was told that killings and violence were being reported from different parts of the state.

"Who is going to protect the ordinary people? The Election Commission is silent. I have asked him to reply to me: Who is there to protect the people and the democracy," Bose asserted.

At least 26 people have been killed since the declaration of the panchayat election date until now, of whom six deaths were reported during the polling process.