Kolkata, May 12: The repoll process in the panchayat polls for 86 booths across West Bengal began this morning. "Barring some booths in inaccessible areas, the repolling would be completed today. The process would be conducted tomorrow in the remaining areas," state election commissioner Ajay Sinha told a new agency.

Sinha said the repoll was ordered because of printing errors and problems in distribution of ballot papers, besides reports of snatching of the papers during yesterday's panchayat polls. Counting of votes for the panchayat polls would begin tomorrow.

The state election commission had issued an order last night asking the authorities to announce through the public address system that repoll would begin at 7 am today.

DIG (hq) N C Ghosh, meanwhile, said elaborate security arrangements have been made and the situation in the state was "peaceful, except in Jamboni area in West Midnapore". Sixteen persons lost their lives in the panchayat poll related violence. The body of abducted CPI(M) panchayat samiti candidate and local committee secretary Basudev Bhakat was found this morning.

Bureau Report