This, in spite of the reports of booth capturing in Nandigram and instances of ballot paper snatching in several pockets of the districts that went to polls.

The State Election Commission has received a

report of an incident, where ballot papers were snatched at a polling booth under Manteswar police station in Burdwan. “If necessary, the EC may consider ordering a re-poll in the booth after verification,” said S N Roychowdhury,

Secretary, State Election Commission.

Similar instances of ballot snatching were also reported from two booths under the Lalgarh police station of West Midnapore area and Mangalkot. A similar case has been reported from Bankura’s Onda Block.

But in these cases, the State Election Commission is yet to receive official reports. The booths where re-elections may be ordered will go to polls again on May 13.

Till 3 pm, the voter turnout was 52 per cent in Bankura, 50 per cent in East and West Midnapore, 55 per cent in Burdwan and 45 per cent in Purulia.

“We will not be surprised if the percentage goes up to over 70 to 80 per cent. Our experience is that panchayat polls see heavy voter turnouts than the Assembly polls,” said Roychowdhury.

In Nandigram, a high voter turn out of 70 per cent was already recorded by Sunday evening.