UP panchayat polls sees 71 pc turnout 8 ARRESTED AFTER 2 BALLOT BOXES STOLEN

Lucknow, April 15: Over 70 per cent votes were cast in the first of the four-phased Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections on Thursday, the State Election Commission said.

The voting started in the morning with ballet papers.

Four people suffered minor injuries in a clash between two groups at a polling booth in Agra, but there were no reports of any violence from elsewhere in the state, officials said.

“Till 5 pm, 61 per cent votes were cast. While the maximum 69.75 per cent votes were cast in Jhansi, Shravasti witnessed 53 per cent polling. All those who come to vote till 6 pm will be allowed to vote,” the SEC said here.

More than 3.33 lakh candidates are in the fray in over 2.21 lakh seats in the first phase of the polls for the posts of zila panchayat (district council) members, kshetra (block) panchayat members, village panchayat heads and wards. The districts where the polls were held include Ayodhya, Agra, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Allahabad, Bareilly, Bhadohi, Mahoba, Rampur, Raebareli,

Agra (UP), April 15: Two ballot boxes were stolen in Rihawali village of Agra Rural constituency during the Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections on Thursday, police said.

SP (East) Ashok Venkat said a clash broke out between supporters of candidates fighting for the gram pradhan post following which the two ballot boxes were stolen.

Four people were injured in the incident and they were taken to SN Medical College and Hospital here for treatment, he said. SSP (Agra) Muniraj told reporters that eight people have been arrested so far and further probe is on. —

Shravasti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Saharanpur, Hardoi and Hathras.

Meanwhile, in Jhansi, polling officer Nirmala Sahu, posted at Jauri Bujurg died after she complained of uneasiness, assistant superintendent of police Vivek Tripathi said. —