Bantwal: In an incident that occurred on Saturday, an elderly pedestrian died after an unknown vehicle crashed into him and fled the scene at B. C. Road Talapady.

The elderly man who was found bleeding and injured by the Talapady road was reportedly taken to the Bantwal government hospital by the locals. However, due to the severity of his injuries, the elderly man passed away at the hospital after the treatment proved to be ineffective, it is learned.

It is being speculated that the elderly man, approximately in his 60s may have been injured in a hit and run accident, that caused him severe injuries to the head. 

Since the identity and information about the deceased haven’t yet been ascertained, the body of the unidentified elderly person has been kept in the Bantwal government hospital’s mortuary. Efforts are being made to locate the person’s relatives and his identity, it is learned.

The Traffic S.I. Rajesh K. V has informed that if anybody knows the deceased’s identity or is related to the victim, they can contact the Melkar Traffic Police station or visit the Bantwal government hospital, he said.

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Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.

Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.

"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.

Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."

Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."

On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.

She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.

"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.

The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.

Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.

Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.