J&K panchayat polls: 29 booked for hurling stones at counting hall

JAMMU : At least 29 people have been booked for allegedly pelting stones at a counting hall, hours after the peaceful conclusion of phase 7 of panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, police said on Wednesday.

The stone pelting was reported from near a counting hall in Khawas near Budhal on Tuesday night, senior superintendent of police, Rajouri, Yougal Manhas said.

Some people got into a confrontation over counting of votes and resorted to violence, creating a law and order problem despite repeated attempts by the officials to pacify them, he said.

Police fired teargas shells and initiated baton charge to restore law and order, he said.

No one was injured in the incident. Police and paramilitary personnel exercised maximum restrain, he added.

The police team, led by additional superintendent of police, Nowshera, G L Sharma, brought the situation under control with the help of some senior citizens of the area, Manhas said.

The polling staff carrying ballot boxes were given safe passage, he said.

The senior superintendent of police (SSP) said the 29 accused have been booked for spreading violence and creating a law and order problem under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code, he said.

Manhas said efforts are underway to arrest the accused.