Kolkata, April 23 -- Clashes were reported from several of the 152 constituencies across 16 districts that went to polls in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday, with sporadic incidents of violence also recorded the previous night.

Tensions flared in parts of Murshidabad, Birbhum, Cooch Behar and Dakshin Dinajpur, where rival party workers allegedly clashed, crude bombs were hurled and candidates faced attacks, even as security forces were deployed in large numbers to ensure a free and fair polling process.

Domkal and Nowada in Murshidabad, which accounted for the highest number of voter deletions after the adjudication process, saw clashes late on Wednesday night.

Tension prevailed at Raipur village in Dom...