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Villagers vote with gusto
Vij alleges assault by BJP supporters
Inquiry sought into functioning of fair
Seminar explores historical processes and traditions
Youth killed in road mishap
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2 held for theft in mobile shop
6 shops burgled in Kalka
1 killed as canter hits auto rickshaw
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Villagers vote with gusto
Panchkula/Ambala,
February 3 Interestingly, the voter enthusiasm was more in the rural areas with the rural voter turnout in the Kalka constituency exceeding 70 per cent. Ambala district too witnessed an active rural participation in the polling. In Sector 16, Panchkula, a tiff between BJP worker Parveen and Congress Councillor from Rajiv Colony, Dalbir Singh, took an ugly turn as the two came to blows. Soon party workers from both camps pitched in but timely intervention by the police saved matters from going out of control. In Naggal village too, supporters of the Congress clashed with the husband of the village Sarpanch, Amrik, who was the INLD supporter. Even in Tipra village, supporters of the INLD and Congress almost came to blows but intervention by the police prevented any untoward incident. Mild clashes between supporters of the Congress and INLD were also reported in Sector 19 and Sector 15. The polling was delayed for almost half- an- hour in two polling booths- at DC Model School, Sector 7, and at Bhoj Koti in Morni. The Presiding Officer at DC Model School, Sector 7, suffered a heart attack in the morning resulting in the polling getting delayed by almost 25 minutes. The officer, Mr Ashwani Kumar Bajaj,was rushed to PGI, Chandigarh. The EVM at this booth too developed a snag. At Bhoj Koti in Morni, the polling was stopped for almost half-an-hour around 3. 30 pm, when an electronic voting machine (EVM) in the Chhamla hamlet in Bhoj Koti somehow stopped functioning. In Sector 16 and 17 of Panchkula, the polling was at its peak during the morning hours when the voters from the nearby slum and labour colonies cast their votes. Large queues of male voters could be seen outside the two booths in the morning hours while the women voters turned up in large numbers in the afternoon. Throughout the constituency, polling was brisk for most part of the day. In Panchkula, while the polling varied between 50 to 55 per cent in the town, booths at the villages in Panchkula and near the slum and labour colonies witnessed 55 to 62 per cent polling. At village Ramgarh, almost 368 of the 1423 voters had cast their vote by 11. 15 am only. While 34 per cent polling was reported at Kot village and almost 40 per cent at Dabkauri village around noon. A large number of women voters exercised their franchise at the village. In Basolan village of Pinjore, 61.31 per cent polling was reported around 2.15 pm, though a mere 23 per cent of the electorate who came to cast votes were women. In Kalka, the polling was slow in the morning hours though it picked up in the afternoon. While 37 per cent had cast their votes by 2. 30 pm, the maximum number of voters exercised their franchise in the late afternoon. Meanwhile, in Ambala the polling was low in the morning hours but it picked up momentum as the day progressed. Highest polling percentage was 71.5 per cent in Naggal Assembly segment followed by 69.3 per cent polling in the Mullana (reserved) constituency. Ambala City witnessed 69 per cent polling while Ambala Cantt had 64 per cent polling. A complaint of malfunctioning of an electronic voting machine was received from Dubli village in the Mullana Assembly constituency. The faulty EVM was promptly changed and polling progressed smoothly. While few verbal altercations did take place between supporters of various parties, it did not hinder polling. In Ambala Cantt, a railway union leader was accosted by the supporters of the Independent candidate, Mr Hira Lal Yadav, after the leader pressed some voters to vote for the Independent candidate,Mr Anil Vij. In Topekhana bazar area, an altercation took place between the supporters of Mr Anil Vij and the BJP. There was heavy deployment of police personnel all over the district. The sensitive and hypersensitive booths in the different constituencies were manned by the paramilitary personnel who maintained a strict vigil throughout polling. The enthusiasm of voters was specially apparent in villages where the aged as well as the infirm went to cast their votes. Mr Fateh Singh, an 80-year-old villager in Naggal, said he always made it a point to cast his vote. "I am happy that I too can contribute towards deciding the future of our area by casting my vote for a suitable candidate," he said. In Konkpur village, where an altercation had taken place between former Haryana Revenue Minister Nirmal Singh and a polling officer during the recent Lok Sabha elections, polling was peaceful. "There was no untoward incident here," a police official said. Inspector-General of Police, Ambala range, R.N. Chahalia said the polling was peaceful throughout the area. "No untoward incident has taken place and we have made tight security arrangements to ensure that there is free and fair polling," he added.
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Polling peaceful in Gurgaon district
Gurgaon, February 3 The police has registered a case against an election agent of the BJP nominee, Mr Sanjay Singh,from Taoru Assembly constituency under the Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code(IPC).The accused is alleged to have stabbed a voter on ground that the latter was trying to resort to unfair means at the polling booth. The injured is said to be out of danger. There was palpable tension for about an hour in Charora village in Taoru Assembly as Mr Tayab Hussain, father of the Congress nominee,Mr Zakir Hussain, entered the booth along with his supporters and was allegedly supervising the casting of votes. Mr Tayab Hussain is a former minister and a stalwart of Mewat region. He, however, left the place on account of intervention by the police. There was minor altercation between supporters of the INLD and the Congress at Jharsa village in Gurgaon Assembly segment at a polling booth in a local high school in the morning session. There was tension in Rithos village in Sohna Assembly segment as the BJP nominiee, Mr Kartar Singh Bhadana, stormed into polling booth no. 39 and asked the poll authorities at the spot to stop the polling process. He had to quit after a section of the voters and the poll authorities remonstrated with him. It was alleged that the BJP nominee was in high dungeon as the voting pattern in the village suggested in favour of an Independent, Mr Sukhvir Jaunapuria. Till about 4 pm,the percentage of votes cast in Gurgaon, Sohna, Taoru, Ferozepur Jhirka, Nuh and Pataudi were about 40, 55, 48, 48, 55 and 42, respectively. While the voters showed enthusiasm in the rural belt, especially in the Mewat area, the female participation was apparently very low. In Sasola village (Taoru segment), identified as sensitive by the authorities, five females found their votes casted when they arrived at the polling booth in the afternoon session. They left the scene without protesting to the authorities. However, there was also a good chunk of the population who apparently seemed apathetic to the poll process. For example, more than 30 youths were spotted in Saunk village in Nuh Assembly segment playing cricket and “gulli danda” in a fiedd near an empty polling booth at about 3 pm. Habibur Rehman, one of the youths, ratonalised the development saying that there was no significance to the poll process as all the candidates in the fray have a common identity: they were politicians who could not be trusted. In some of the villages like Mohammad Baas and Khedi Khurd in Ferozepur Jhirka the polling process appeared to be over by 4 pm. The voters of Palsoli village in Pataudi Assembly segment boycotted the poll as the polling booth for the village was set up in another village. |
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Cong candidate’s driver shot in poll clash
Hisar, February 3 According to the police and eyewitnesses, a clash broke out between the supporters of Mr Randhir Singh and the supporters of Mr Umed Lohan, the INLD candidate from the Barwala seat, near Mirchpur village this afternoon. Congress candidate Randhir Singh is the brother of the Congress MP from Hisar, Mr Jai Prakash. On the other hand, Mr Lohan is the president of the youth wing of the state INLD. Kulbir, 35, was also a relative of Mr Randhir Singh. According to sources, some altercation took place between the supporters of Mr Lohan and Mr Randhir Singh at Rakhi Shahpur village in Barwala constituency. However, Mr Randhir Singh left the village along with his supporters on his vehicle. Their vehicle was allegedly chased by Mr Lohan and his supporters. An exchange of fire took place near Mirchpur village, in which Kulbir received bullet injuries. He was rushed to a Jind hospital, where he was declared dead by the doctors. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Attar Singh Ahlawat, confirmed the incident. He said the Narnaund SHO, Mr Dharam Singh, had been told to investigate the case. Kulbir Singh was son of Mr Tek Ram of Rajthal village in the district, he added. The Election Commission’s Observer for the Barwala constituency, Mr C.P. Singh, refused to comment on the issue. He maintained that only the Returning Officer could provide an official version in this regard. However, the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer, Mr Arun Kumar Gupta, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Meanwhile, some supporters of an Independent candidate for the Hisar seat, Mr Hari Singh Saini, clashed with the supporters of Kurukshetra MP Naveen Jindal while polling was going on at a booth here today. Following this, the police personnel intervened and brought the situation under control. Barring these incidents, polling was peaceful in the district and a massive voter turnout was registered. |
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18 hurt in group clashes at polling booths
Karnal, February 3 As per the reports available, Nirmal Singh, Nishan Singh, Hardip Singh and Harminder Sing associated with the Ekta Shakti while Harvinder Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Vikram, Gurmeet Kaur and Sukhwinder Kaur associated with the Congress party received multiple injuries in a group clash. They were taken to a trauma centre where their condition was said to be out of danger. Minor incidents of scuffle among the party workers of various parties were also reported from the Nilokheri and Jundla constituencies but no one was reported injured. The matters were solved on the spot with the interference of security personnel deployed there and the polling staff. The District Electoral Officer-cum-District Magistrate, Mr R.S. Doon, told this correspondent that an average of 71 per cent polling was reported from all six constituencies of the district. However, the exact figures could be determined late in the evening, he added. He said maximum polling of 76 per cent was reported from Indri constituency while in Karnal and Asandh constituencies the poling was around 65 per cent. In Nilokheri it was around 75 per cent, Gharaunda 75 per cent and Jundla 70 per cent. The DM said that 40 Sector Magistrates, 60 Supervisors, six Working Magistrates, six Deputy Superintendents of Police were put on duty to monitor the polling process in all the six Assembly constituencies of the district. Our Correspondent from Jind adds: Four persons were injured in the poll related violence in this district today. The polling in the district was held today under heavy security arrangements. According to the reports reaching here, in Khunga village, polling remained held up for about one hour because some dispute at a polling booth. A polling officer was allegedly manhandled by some miscreants. In Dalamwala village the polling remained held up for about half an hour because of some dispute. In Kharainti village, two persons, Narender and Satbir, were injured in a clash between the supporters of the Congress candidate and an Independent candidate. At a polling booth in Bighana village two persons, Ram Kumar and Raj Kumar, were injured in a clash between two groups. All the injured were admitted to the local general hospital. In Karamgarh village of Narwana constituency of the district, five persons were reportedly injured in a clash. However, Mr Manjit Singh Ahlawat, Superintendent of Police, has denied the reports. In the meantime, about 66 per cent polling was reported from the Jind Assembly constituency whereas the average polling in the whole district is about 74 per cent. The polling is over eighty per cent in the Narwana constituency from whre Mr Om Prakash Chautala is in the poll fray. |
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Vij alleges assault by BJP supporters
Ambala, February 3 The BJP activists held a demonstration over the incident in the Sadar area this evening after the 5 pm polling deadline was over. They strongly condemned the incident. There was tension in Shastri colony after Mr Vij was allegedly assaulted by three persons. “When we were returning, I noticed a Maruti car following us. After I reached home, the Maruti driver tried to run me over. I immediately asked my gunman to close the colony gate so that the car driver cannot escape,” he said. He said later the car returned and one of the persons hit him with an iron rod. He sustained multiple fractures in his hand. Mr Vij claimed that BJP activists had assaulted him. “They wanted to disturb my election programme. But, I am sure that voters will see the truth,” he said. However, Ambala Cantt BJP candidate Ravi Sehgal said the incident was politically motivated and an attempt was being made to show the BJP in poor light. “I am confident that the voters will not be taken in by such false allegation,” he said. Mr Sehgal said the three BJP activists, Mr Raman Kohli, Mr Gulshan Sehgal and Mr Sudershan, were going to meet the BJP media in charge of Ambala district, Mr Raj Singh, in Shastri Colony. “They had to hand over some papers to Mr Raj Singh. When, the car reached near Mr Vij’s residence in Shastri Colony, Mr Vij accosted them,” he said. He said Mr Vij, along with another person, began to hit the three. He added the BJP activists have sustained injuries in the incident. “We rushed them to the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt, where they were given medical attention,” he said. Congress candidate from Ambala Cantt Devender Bansal said he would not like to comment on the matter. “The exact details of the incident are not known to me. However, I would like to stress that the Congress does not believe in violence and we sincerely feel that the residents of Ambala Cantt should not face any law and order situation,” he said.
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Inquiry sought into functioning of fair price shops
Sonepat, February 3 Members of the BPL families have alleged that complaints made to the authorities concerned in this regard have yielded no result. Many consumers also alleged that fair price shops remained closed usually. They alleged that officials of the district administration and the Food and Supplies Department never tried to check the fair price shops. Ration card holders of the general category have alleged that they are being denied the supply of kerosene because bulk quantity of kerosene is being sold in the black market. They demanded a high-level inquiry in this regard.
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Seminar explores historical processes and traditions
Chandigarh, February 3 Dr Nupur Chaudhari made a critical analysis of old Marwari chronicle, written in verse, by Kavi Jan. She highlighted the self image of the Qiyamkhanis of Fatehpur, Jhunjhunu, particularly their role in the state formation in medieval Rajputana. The study assumed importance as the Qiyamkhanis had been ignored in known Rajput chronicles. Prof Imtiaz Ahmad, the Director of Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna, traced the emergence of Ujjainiya Rajputs in medieval Bihar as a political force on the basis of oral traditions, which had been recorded in Tarikh-I-Ujjainiya. He showed the process by which an alien group carved out a autonomous political entity and even continued to challenge imperial authorities for a long time. Prof Chetan Singh of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, presented a paper titled ‘The Place of Myth, Legend and Folklore in Western Himalayan History. He argued that oral tradition passes through several contestation and multiple interpretations. Myths were often created to legitimise the rule of local dynasties, as in case of some principalities in the Western Himalayas. Prof Vijaya Ramaswamy of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, explored gender relation on the basis of two Tamil myths. Dr I.D. Gaur of Panjab University argued that the concept and praxis of martyrdom required a fresh understanding in the light of the conflict of legendary lovers with the orthodox forces.
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Youth killed in road mishap
Hisar, February 3 The victim was taken to the Civil Hospital, where he was declared dead . The police has registered a case and impounded the tractor.
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2 held for theft in mobile shop
Sonepat, February 3 According to another report, the Rai police has also arrested two persons, Surinder and Hari Parkash, residents of Bajana Kalan village, for their involvement in three murder cases. The police also impounded their motor cycle. During interrogation the two confessed to their involvement in three cases of murders. They told the police that they had committed the murder of Harish in their village in 2003 and had looted the driver of an oiltanker and murdered him near Julana village in November last year.
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6 shops burgled in Kalka
Panchkula, February 3 Cash and goods worth Rs 44,500 were stolen from the shops, after the miscreants forced their entry by breaking the front locks on the shutters. However, nobody seemed to notice the burglary till about 6 am today, when one of the shopkeepers, Mr Anand Kishore, reached here and found the locks broken. Mr Ghanshyam Garg, whose shop was also burgled, said it was strange that the miscreants had struck amidst such heavy police deployment. “I had passed through the market around 1 am and found the cops sitting here. At that time, the locks of my shop were intact,” he said. While cash worth Rs 15,000 each were stolen from Odena Tailors and Fair Deal Enterprises, Rs 4,000 each was stolen from Prem Provision Store, Banarasi Pan House and Anand Brothers. Rs 400 cash and some machinery worth Rs 2,500 was stolen from Sabab Hair Dressers. The shopkeepers said the cash boxes were missing from the shops and some of the empty boxes were found at a distance from the market. The shopkeepers said that though they informed the police, no FIR was registered because of the elections.
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1 killed as canter hits auto rickshaw
Sonepat, February 3 The deceased was identified as Madan Lal (60) of Bahalgarh village. The auto-rickshaw was on its way to Bahalgarh from the Haryana-Delhi border side. The auto-rickshaw overturned after it was hit by a canter loaded with milk. The driver of the canter, however, managed to escape immediately after the accident. According to another report, an employee of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam
(UHBVN), Mr Mahinder was injured when he lost control of his motorcycle on the
G.T. Road near Bhigan village, about 10 km from here, today. He was rushed to the local civil hospital where he is stated to be out of danger.
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