Hindustan Times (East UP)

Voting held amid incidents of violence in Pratapgarh

- HT Correspond­ent allahabad.htdesk@hindustant­imes.com HT HT

PRAYAGRAJ : Several incidents of violence were reported from across Pratapgarh district during the second phase of the fourphase Uttar Pradesh panchayat polls on Monday.

Till 5 pm, 52.14 per cent voters had cast their votes in the district, said the officials concerned. Voting was held from 7 am to 6 pm during which over 26.40 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise at 3,768 polling booths across the district.

Pratapgarh district election officer Nitin Bansal said all efforts were made to ensure free and fair panchayat polls in the district. Strict action was taken against the non-social elements who tried to disrupt peaceful polling process, he added.

Elaborate security arrangemen­ts were made in Pratapgarh district in view of the pollng. Besides police personnel, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was also deployed at sensitive and hypersensi­tive booths to ensure peaceful polling.

At a polling booth in Pureli Makhdumpur in Babaganj block, supporters of two panchayat poll candidates clashed over allegation­s of fake voting. The supporters of one group fled with ballot papers there following which an additional police force was rushed there to restore order. Police later recovered the ballet papers from the house of one Monu who is brother-in-law of a woman candidate contesting for the post of village head. Monu his brother Sonu and some others were arrested in this connection. The voting was disrupted following the incident till evening which resumed after officials made announceme­nts in the village. Tehsildar Ramjanam said case will be lodged in this connection.

Tension prevailed at Khadwa polling booth in Lalganj area where supporters of a candidate attacked cops and damaged vehicle of sector magistrate over allegation­s of fake voting. Police baton charged the miscreants and rescued polling officials.

Similar situation prevailed at polling booth at Sarai Majuari in Mangraura Block where supporters of an aspirant poured water in ballot box after failed attempts to capture polling booth. Police resorted to cane charge to restore order.

Supporters of two aspiring village heads clashed and pelted one another with stones at polling booths in Birauti and Kharwai villages in Patti tehsil of the district at around 11 am. Some miscreants attempted to loot ballot boxes from the polling booth following which police used force to chase them away. Due to this, polling was disrupted for about 40 minutes. An additional police force was deployed in the villages after the incident.

At the polling booth in Bariawa

village of Kalakakar area, miscreants set a ballot box on fire over allegation­s that polling officials were helping a particular candidate. A polling official was assaulted over the same allegation­s at a polling booth in Bhagwatiga­nj village of Sangramgar­h block.

At Pure Kolahal polling booth, three people were injured in a clash following which six people were taken into custody. Mild force was used by police at a polling booth at Shivrajpur where some persons clashed over allegation­s of fake voting.

The police also chased away some people who were arguing with a sector magistrate and were trying to disrupt voting process at Mehmadapur booth in Sandwa Chandrika developmen­t block.

Meanwhile, ballot papers did not reach Idilpur booth of Sangipur and some other polling booths in the district following which polling officials had to close the gates of polling booths for some hours.

For 57 seats of zila panchayat member in the district, 719 aspirants are in the fray while for 1193 posts of village head, 10783 candidates are trying their luck. Interestin­gly, for 14,917 seats of gram panchayat member only 11,875 candidates have filed their nomination­s. Some 6,345 contestant­s are locked in the fight for 1,434 posts of BDC member.

 ??  ?? Ballot boxes thrown , ballot papers burnt at a polling booth in Pratapgarh on Monday.
Ballot boxes thrown , ballot papers burnt at a polling booth in Pratapgarh on Monday.
 ??  ?? Ballot papers thrown into a pit in Pratapgarh on Monday.
Ballot papers thrown into a pit in Pratapgarh on Monday.

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