SPORADIC VIOLENCE DURING UP RURAL POLLS
Rural voters brave Covid-19, heat to exercise franchise; 57.24% polling till 5pm reported
LUCKNOW: Polling for the first phase of panchayat election in 18 districts of the state ended under watertight security on Thursday. Barring a few incidents of violence and manhandling from some places, the election was by and large peaceful, senior election officials claimed.
Considering that the polling was held amid rising Covid-19 cases, the biggest challenge before the authorities was to ensure Covid-19 protocol at the polling stations.
PRAYAGRAJ: Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from various polling centres across the district during panchayat polling on Thursday. Over allegations of booth capturing and fake voting, supporters of panchayat poll aspirants clashed at many places in trans-Yamuna and trans-Ganga areas, while in Saidabad, voting was stalled for some time after some persons poured water in ballot box after scuffle with polling officials.
Some people allegedly tried to capture the polling booth at Kahra village under Saidabad Development Block of transGanga area in the afternoon. The miscreants fought with officials and poured water in all six ballot boxes. The polling process was obstructed for about one-and-a- half hours following the disturbances.
Violence was also reported from Mohiuddinpur village of Nawabganj, Nyayipur village in Holagarh, Kunwar Patti and Kanigaha villages of Meja,
Mailaha village in Karchhana and some other places in the district.
Earlier in the day, polling began slowly at all 23 development blocks of Prayagraj. By 9am, only 9.11% voters had cast their votes and by 11am the voting percentage reached 20.11%. However, the voting percentage climbed to 33% by 1pm and 45.20% by 3pm before touching 57.24% by 5pm, Assistant Election Officer MP Singh
Voting was stopped for some time in the evening due to deteriorating health of the presiding officer in Unchadih village of Manda development block. Villagers clashed with the police after police allegedly beat up the complainant who alleged fake voting in Ahibiour of Soraon area.
Angry villagers turned violent and indulged in stone-pelting. However the situation was later brought under control by the police.
Gram Pradhan candidates die, polling suspended at two places
The election of Gram Pradhan was postponed in two places due to the death of candidates. While officials confirmed the death of a candidate each at Mavaiyya Kala of Manda and Bhagwatpur, the election was nevertheless held as by the time of starting of the polling, the news of deaths had not reached the officials.
Recently, in Pipora village of Phulpur and in Fatwa village of Urwa, deaths of one gram pradhan candidate each were reported. The information of this was given to the returning officer well in time and as a result no voting for the post of gram pradhans was held on Thursday.
Violence erupted at polling booth at Sarsa Dadupur village under Soraon police station of trans-Ganga area in the last hours of voting. Villagers here alleged that polling officials were helping a particular candidate. Police tried to pacify villagers, but they pelted them with stones. Villagers threw ballet box in the pond and damaged some police vehicle.