Sarpanch candidate shot dead in Sonepat

ROHTAK: A 53-year-old man, who was contesting the sarpanch election in Sonepat’s Chhichdana village, was allegedly shot dead, while his son sustained bullet injuries, police said on Friday.

The deceased has been identified as Dalbir Singh. His son Rahul is undergoing treatment at Bhagath Phool Singh medical college for women at Khanpur Kalan in Sonepat.

Sonepat assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Himanshu Garg said that the incident took place when Dalbir Singh along with his son Rahul was returning home after canvassing on Thursday night.

“The assailants fired shots at the father-son duo and they were rushed to Bhagath Phool Singh medical college, where Dalbir was declared brought dead and his son is undergoing treatment. We have booked 12 persons by name for murder and other sections of the Indian penal code (IPC). An investigation is underway,” the ASP added.

Four candidates, including Balbir Singh, were contesting the sarpanch poll in Chhichdana village in Sonepat, which will go for voting on November 12.

Second phase voting to elect 2,684 panchayat members today

KARNAL: Over 47.60 lakh voters will exercise their franchise to elect sarpanches and panches in the second phase of panchayat polls in nine districts of the state on Saturday. As per the information by the state election commission, voting will be held from 7am to 6pm to elect the representatives of 2,684 village panchayats, including 400 panchayats in Ambala, 165 in Charkhi Dadri, 157 in Gurugram, 395 in Karnal, 403 in Kurukshetra, 365 in Rewari, 142 in Rohtak, 339 in Sirsa and 318 in Sonepat.

The voting for sarpanches will be done with the electronic voting machines, while polling for panches will be done via ballot papers. The counting of the votes will be held soon after the voting is completed.

Karnal deputy commissioner and returning officer Anish Yadav said that all the preparations have been completed for the election as 13 sarpanches have been elected unanimously.