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Zila parishad poll
18 hurt in Cong-SAD clashes in Patiala
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Independent candidate, Cong poll agent attacked in Fazilka
SAD panch among 6 hurt in Ludhiana
SAD men ‘thrash’ Cong nominee
in Guruharsahai MLA’s village
Bathinda village gives voting a miss
Re-polling in 3 booths today
Bajwa: Sekhwan violated poll code
69% polling in Mohali dist
Polldigest
Purchase panel under scanner
Punjab yarn dealers face scrutiny
Copies of FIRs on websites soon
Six held in Cong leader’s murder case
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Zila parishad poll
Muktsar, May 19 A group of youths led by Pawanpreet Singh Bobby, a distant nephew of the Chief Minister, Avtar Singh Vanwala, former OSD to the Deputy CM, and Youth Akali leader Jimmy Mehna entered polling booth no.103 and bolted the door. Congress workers gathered outside the polling station also tried to get in but were restrained by the police. This angered the Congress workers who allegedly torched vehicles belonging to SAD workers. Sources said Akali workers fired gunshots from inside the polling station. A Congress worker claimed that a bullet grazed his hand. Akalis workers allegedly thrashed a Congress worker, Harpal Singh alias Pali, of Mann village, Congress polling agent, and threw him across the school boundary wall. One Major Singh was also hurt in the melee. This further aggravated the situation with Congress workers throwing stones at the polling station, damaging a police vehicle and injuring constable Satinderpal Singh. The police fired into the air to disperse the mob. Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh and Superintendent of Police (D) Gurinderjit Singh rushed to the site. “Polling was stopped when some youngsters carrying arms entered a polling booth. Till then 498 votes had been polled. They threatened us. Before we could seek help, the mob gathered outside torched some vehicles and those inside the booth ran out,” said Jatinder Kumar, presiding officer. Congress leader Maheshinder Singh Badal, who had contested unsuccessfully against the CM, said: “ The incident shows the Akalis can do anything to win elections. It is shameful that close members of the ruling family were involved in the incident.” He accused the police of shielding the Akali workers and allowing them to flee the polling station. When contacted, the former OSD to the Deputy CM, Vanwala, refuted the allegations. “I had gone to take stock of the situation there as some Congress men had launched an attack on our party workers. The Congress is trying to implicate us. Neither Bobby Badal nor Jimmy Mehna nor me took law into our hands,” he said. Later in the day, SAD activists Harcharan Singh and Baljinder Singh were admitted to the Government Health Centre, Lambi, with bullet injuries, said sources. Partap Singh Bajwa, Pradesh Congress chief, speaking on the phone, said: “The Congress will lodge a protest outside the Lambi police station tomorrow morning in this regard.”
Badal, Sukhbir fail to cast vote
Muktsar, May 19 Manpreet Singh Badal, PPP chief, and his father Gurdas Badal voted at Government Primary School, Badal village. Manpreet's wife Veenu and his mother did not vote. The Chief Minister's cousin, Maheshinder Singh Badal, who had contested unsuccessfully against him, also cast his vote. But his wife and son did not. Manpreet Badal drove from his farmhouse to the polling station in his open jeep. He was seen waiting patiently in a queue to cast his ballot.
‘Peaceful poll triumph of democracy’
‘Police was partisan, did not act
‘Violence in state had a pattern’
Polling was stopped when youngsters carrying arms entered a polling booth. They threatened us. Before we could seek help, a mob gathered outside torched some vehicles and those inside the booth ran out The incident shows the Akalis can do anything to win the elections. It is shameful that close members of the ruling family were involved in the incident
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18 hurt in Cong-SAD clashes in Patiala
Patiala, May 19 The overall polling percentage in Patiala was 64 per cent. In Rajpura, it was 67 per cent, in Ghanaur 65 per cent, Sanaur 58 per cent, Samana 62 per cent, Patran 68 per cent, Patiala Rural 57 per cent and Nabha 68 per cent. In Samana, the home constituency of Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, booth-capturing in more than 12 villages was reported. Six Congress supporters sustained injuries. Vehicles bearing Haryana registration numbers were seen carrying SAD supporters and entering polling booths. In Fatehpur village, outsiders captured booths for over 40 minutes in the afternoon. “A mob of more than 100 goons led by a councillor selectively targeted polling booths. The local police played a partisan role,” alleged Patiala MP Preneet Kaur. In Sanaur and Shutrana, clashes between Congress and SAD supporters outside a dozen polling booths frightened the voters who rushed back home. The Congress accused Shutrana MLA Vaninder Kaur Loomba and her relatives of trying to intimidate Congress candidates. Nine persons were injured in over six clashes in Shutrana. Loomba was not available for comment. Sanaur MLA Laal Singh alleged that SAD supporters fired into the air to shoo away Congress supporters. But the police denied the allegation. Voting remained largely peaceful in Patiala (Rural) with Congress leader Brahm Mohindra holding the fort and ensuring there was no booth-capturing. In Nabha, three persons were injured, one of them seriously, in a SAD-Congress clash. Marred by violence
A mob of more than 100 goons led by a municipal councillor selectively targeted polling booths. The local police played a partisan role
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Independent candidate, Cong poll agent attacked in Fazilka
Fazilka, April 19 An eyewitness said trouble began when the ruling party members allegedly captured booth number 33 and 34 in Ojhanwali village of Jhok Depoland zone of the Fazilka panchayat samiti. The attempt was resisted by an Independent candidate, Nishan Singh (27) of Sant Kharkhiva village, who in turn was allegedly assaulted with sharp-edged weapons, resulting in serious head injuries to him. He was rushed to the local Civil Hospital from where doctors referred him to the Government Medical College, Faridkot. At booth number 92 and 93 in Churiwala Chisti village of Pakka Chisti block, a Congress poll agent, Jaspal Singh (38), was allegedly assaulted by political opponents. He sustained injuries on his right arm. Both the polling booths were allegedly captured by the ruling party men. Ballot papers were reportedly snatched, furniture was smashed and the polling staff was also roughed up at Churiwala Chisti village. Eyewitnesses said the police remained a mute spectator. Returning Officer Charandev Singh Maan said re-polling had been recommended in four booths of Jhok Depoland and Pakka Chisti villages. “The final word is awaited from the Election Commission,” he said. Superintendent of Police Manmohan Sharma said the matter was being investigated and a few miscreants had been rounded up. After the violence, a large number of Congress workers gathered in front of Fazilka SSP’s office and demanded an inquiry. In a statement, the Deputy Commissioner said 63 per cent polling had been registered in the district. Clash in Sangrur Sangrur: A scuffle took place between SAD and Congress supporters at a polling booth at Gandewal village today. The SAD workers alleged supporters of the Congress attacked them and insulted the local SAD candidate. However, two Congress supporters, who were detained by the police, alleged the Akalis attacked them first. Sangrur SSP Mandip Singh Sidhu said they had received a complaint from the SAD candidate which was being inquired into. He also claimed there was a scuffle between two individuals and not between SAD and Congress activists.
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SAD panch among 6 hurt in Ludhiana
Ludhiana, May 19 Around 63 per cent votes were polled in 1,436 polling booths, with Khanna block registering the highest turnout of 74 per cent. Ludhiana I and Sidhwan Bet blocks registered the lowest polling at 57 per cent. The voter turnout was high in the morning. As the mercury soared, the voting in almost all the blocks registered a dip. It picked up again in the later part of the day. Meanwhile, two Congress workers and three SAD supporters were injured in a scuffle at Hoal village near Khanna. They have been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Khanna. The injured Congress workers, Jagtar Singh (50) and Swaran Singh (65), alleged SAD activists attacked them when they objected to their accompanying an old man to a polling booth. The Akali workers, Parminder and Ravinder Pal Singh, alleged the Congress workers were drunk and they attacked them without any provocation. In another incident, an Akali panch was allegedly attacked at Seekhan village. The victim, Beant Singh, has been admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital where his condition is stated to be serious. Maloud Station House Officer Vikramjit Singh said the attackers had been identified as Dara Singh and Harinder Singh. The attack might be a case of personal enmity as the incident took place at a distance from the polling booth, he claimed.
(With inputs from Lovleen Bains and Gurminder Grewal)
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SAD men ‘thrash’ Cong nominee
in Guruharsahai MLA’s village
Bathinda, May 19 Sodhi said, “Akali Dal constituency in charge Vardev Singh Mann’s brother forcefully entered the polling booth along with over 50 armed supporters in the morning. The policemen deputed there stood mute spectators while the SAD henchmen sabotaged the polling process.” Though the villagers initially decided to boycott the elections, they returned on his persuasion, claimed Sodhi. He said the Akali goons even hurled stones at the voters and the Congress workers. The Congress claimed similar incidents were reported from across Guruharsahai and Mamdot blocks with booths being captured in Chak Kathgarh (Hassanwala), Lappo, Chak Mahantawala, Haddiwala, Jhariwala, Gamewala, Bhawra Azam Shah, Nurpur Sethan, Mahantawala, Hamad and Jhawla. Sodhi said, “I had apprehended booth capturing and had written to the Election Commission, the Senior Superintendent of Police, the Deputy Commissioner and the Returning Officer. But, no action was taken.” He said he had lost faith in the prevailing system, which had been “sabotaged” by the ruling party and its agents. “Democracy has become a joke,” he said. Senior Superintendent of Police Varinder Pal Singh denied the allegation. He said Congress and Akali agents entered into an argument and later their supporters hurled stones at each other, but the police controlled the situation within minutes. He said even observers from the State Election Commission camped in the school for considerable time to ensure free and fair elections.
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Bathinda village gives voting a miss
Bathinda, May 19 The staff deputed at a polling booth set up in the village waited the entire day but no resident came to vote. In fact, a group of villagers leading the agitation had camped outside the polling booth. Kanakwal comes in Ram Saran zila parishad zone and Bhai Wangar panchayat samiti block. Bakhar Singh, village nambardar, said: “The villagers had decided unanimously to boycott the elections. Not a single vote was cast here.” The villagers living near the refinery have been demanding relocation to a safer place for the last two months. The state government had initiated the process, but no alternative site had been identified so far, an official said. Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh along with a team of officials had visited the village last month. Around 100 acres of land is needed for the purpose. “We will not participate in any election till the government shifts us to a safe place,” said Sukdeep Singh, a resident. He said the villagers wanted the government to provide them land for housing, compensation in lieu of agricultural land and jobs. The villagers say pungent smell emanates from the refinery round-the-clock and some explosions, of late, had damaged several houses. The refinery management, however, claims there was no pollution. We will not participate in any election till the government shifts us to a safer place. We want land for housing, compensation in lieu of agricultural land and jobs
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Re-polling in 3 booths today
Moga, May 19 Senior Superintendent of police Surjit Singh Grewal told The Tribune that at least 15 youths reportedly tried to capture a booth in the Kot-ise-Khan block. “When the polling staff and the policemen on duty took a tough stand, they fled," he said. At least 30 ballot papers were reportedly found missing from this booth after the incident. Congress and SAD leaders blamed each other for the incident. Polling was peaceful in other parts of the district. Octogenarian Mohan Singh, who was Chairman of the Kot-ise-Khan Panchayat Samiti from 1962 to 1972, was among those who came out to vote despite the summer heat. Muktsar: On a complaint by Congress leaders that fake votes had been cast, the State Election Commission has ordered repolling in booth no. 138 and 139 of Rupana village. Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh said: "We appeal to the voters of these two booths to cast their vote tomorrow. The school where these booths are located will remain shut for the purpose." Congress MLA from Gidderbaha, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, said: "Though the district administration has ordered a repoll, it has failed to take action against those involved in the crime. Akali activists even fired gunshots in the air." There were reports of violence from Bhalaiana, Kanianwali, Kattianwali, Panjawa, Mehna and Tapakhera. At Bhalaiana village, a Congress candidate for the panchayat samiti poll was manhandled. Congress workers led by Raja Warring blocked the Muktsar-Bathinda road in protest. Congress MLA from Muktsar Karan Kaur Brar said that at Kanianwali village, Akali workers fired eight shots into the air to intimidate her party workers. Congress workers in a number of villages alleged that their polling agents were not allowed to enter the booths. Gurdas Girdhar, Congress district president, said: Skirmishes
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Bajwa: Sekhwan violated poll code
Gurdaspur, May 19 Polling in the adjoining district of Pathankot, which will have a new 10-member zila parishad, also went off peacefully. There were reports of gunshots being fired by SAD supporters in Shampura that comes within the jurisdiction of the Batala police station. But these allegations were refuted by Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Trikha. Gurdaspur SSP Sukhwant Singh Gill visited the booths declared hyper-sensitive to ensure that there was no untoward incident. Partap Singh Bajwa, who camped in his hometown of Qadian throughout the day, claimed that former Cabinet Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan had violated the poll code by driving in a cavalcade of more than 25 vehicles through several villages of the Qadian Vidhan Sabha segment this morning. “I complained to the SSP but to no avail,” Bajwa said.
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69% polling in Mohali dist
Mohali, May 19 Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tajinder Pal Singh Sidhu said: "The district witnessed 69 per cent polling which is an impressive response." Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner along with Senior Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar went to various villages to take stock of the situation. "Almost everything was found in order", said Sidhu. Expressing similar sentiments, Bhullar said law and order was maintained in the entire district. "There was no major problem except one or two minor incidents. The polling was peaceful," he said. In contrast, Congress MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu alleged certain SAD activists captured a polling booth at Jheurheri village just before the completion of the polling process and cast proxy votes. "Even the polling staff was involved in casting proxy votes. I have reported the matter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mohali Deputy Commissioner and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate", he said. One of the staff members at the booth alleged some persons entered the booth showing polling slips and bolted the door from inside. "When we protested, they snatched the mobile phone of an official and threatened us," he said. Sidhu said he had already marked an inquiry in the matter. "I have sought reports from the polling staff at the booth. After an inquiry, action will be taken", he said. In another incident, a woman of Kumbhra village complained to police that somebody cast vote on her behalf. The officers immediately ordered the staff to inquire the matter. Sources said an altercation took place between SAD and Congress activists at Sohana village. Congress supporters at several villages, including Shampur, Chau Majra, Mote Majra and Gige Majra, were seen complaining of proxy voting by SAD workers. 3 youths rounded up The Sohana Police rounded up three youths near Mote Majra village following a complaint by Congress activists alleging they (the youths) were part of a group of SAD activists who were trying to capture booths. Congress MLA Balbir Sidhu claimed his party activists caught the youths while the rest managed to flee. The youths were taken to the Sohana police station. They were let off after a verification. lowest at Daun The two polling booths at Daun zone witnessed the minimum voting in the district. A total of 25 votes (14 and 11) were cast in Daun, which has around 1,500 votes. The reason behind the low voter turnout was the sudden demise of a religious guru, Baba Balbir Singh, on Saturday. As most of the people in the area are his followers, they preferred to stay away from the election process.
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Polldigest
Ropar: After the polling was over, the Congress leaders, alleging SAD high-handedness at Gandoh Kalan village, blocked traffic on the national highway near Rangilpur. Chamkaur Sahib MLA Charanjit Singh Channi (Congress) alleged that Kotla Nihang zila parishad candidate Harpreet Singh Basant along with his supporters tried to assault Congress leader and former MLA Bhag Singh at Gandoh Kalan village. While Basant denied the allegation, SAD spokesman and local MLA Daljit Singh Cheema said the “Congress was bound to lose the elections and the allegations were out of frustration”. Few skirmishes but no major violence
Ropar: Barring a few skirmishes, no untoward incident was reported from the district. Despite scorching heat, the turnout was more than that of 60 per cent in the last elections on May 12, 2008. In all, 3,59,226 voters were recorded in the district. SAD candidate Jasbir Singh had been already declared elected from Morinda (rural) zila parishad zone when the nomination papers of the Congress candidate were rejected during scrutiny. Chamkaur Sahib zone recorded the highest 72.8 per cent polling, followed by Ropar (72 per cent), Nurpur Bedi (65 per cent) and Morinda (64 per cent). Though Anandpur Sahib had the maximum 1,03,950 voters on rolls, the zone recorded the lowest turnout of 59 per cent. In Sangrur district, Sunam polls maximum
Sangrur: About 69 per cent polling was recorded on Sunday in 21 zila parishad and 10 panchayat samitis zones of the district. The maximum polling of 75 per cent was recorded in Sunam block, followed by 74 per cent in Malerkotla-I, 73 per cent in Dhuri and 71 per cent in Sangrur block. In other blocks, the polling was recorded as: 64 per cent in Dirba, 61 per cent in Malerkotla-II, 68 per cent in Sherpur, 68 per cent in Lehra, 66 per cent in Bhawanigarh and 68 per cent in Andana. Hitch delays polling in Rajpura
Patiala: Polling was delayed for over two hours in Rajpura in the morning. "The returning officer there did not check the faulty ballot papers. Hundreds of voters had to wait and leave without voting," alleged Congress leaders. Patiala Deputy Commissioner GK Singh said he would write to the State Election Commission for strict action against the returning officer. No violence in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur: Elections to 24 zila parishad and 204 panchayat samiti zones went off peacefully in the district. About 56 per cent voters cast their vote in 1,615 polling stations. Varun Roojam, Deputy Commissioner, said no case of untoward incident had been reported.
Chawla hits out at coalition govt
Amritsar: Holding the Punjab Government responsible for the violence in the zila parishad and block samiti poll, BJP national vice-president Laxmi Kanta Chawla today termed the instances as a blot on the SAD-BJP alliance. In a communiqué to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, she said main question was why the Police Department had failed to stop such incidents from happening. She urged Badal to ensure that the police acted in an impartial manner in future and took stringent actions against the culprits irrespective of their political affiliations.
Voting concludes peacefully in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur: Elections to 24 zila parishad and 204 panchayat samiti zones went off peacefully in the district. About 56 per cent voters cast their vote in 1,615 polling stations. Varun Roojam, Deputy Commissioner, said no case of untoward incident had been reported.
CPI leader dies on way to polling booth
Sangrur: Baldev Balla, 47, CPI's district committee member, died on his way to a polling booth at Khandewad village, 6 km from Lehragaga. He reportedly suffered a heart attack.
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Books with vulgar content in school libraries
Chandigarh, May 19 Initial findings have raised questions on the composition of the special committee constituted for the purchase of library books for schoolchildren. Instead of any senior official from the department or subject experts, the team comprised only Harkanwaljit Kaur, District Education Officer (DEO), Bathinda; Jarnail Singh, Science Supervisor in DEO office, Bathinda; Parveen Kumari, Math mistress, Government Senior Secondary School, Maluka; and Sanjeev Bhushan, RUMSA assistant. Sources said the committee was constituted on February 28 to purchase books for government school libraries. In a special meeting on March 8, sample books came up before the committee, which did not give any expert advice on the content. On March 13, only four quotations came up for selection. Two firms were from Mansa and one each from Muktsar and Jalandhar. Friends Mansa which gave 15 per cent concession was selected against Sunrise, Mansa, which promised to give 14 per cent discount. Questions are being raised on the buying process because an advertisement inviting tenders was given in a Hindi daily having limited circulation. One of the arguments being put forward is that the grant was received on March 28 and the department had only three days to buy the books. Senior officials, however, ridiculed the argument. Though the Education Department has stopped accepting books from the specific supplier, such books have already been distributed in Ropar and Mohali and parts of Hoshiarpur district. Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka has already ordered a probe into the matter. Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary (School Education), has constituted a committee under Kahan Singh Pannu, Director General School Education, to look into the matter. A report is expected by tomorrow.
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Misuse of tax exemption
Patiala, May 19 Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner Anurag Verma has asked department officials to check records of all the yarn dealers, especially in Ludhiana. The matter came to light a few days ago when the department conducted an inspection in some firms in Ludhiana. "After availing tax exemption while importing yarn, which is meant to be converted into cloth and then sold as a tax-free item, several dealers misused the exemption and supplied the yarn in the market," a said senior official. Department officials said Anurag Verma has written to the police to register an FIR against Ankit Malhotra, the owner of Balaji Sales Corporation, Ludhiana, for filing a wrong undertaking and affidavit with the department for obtaining exemption from the payment of entry tax. The department wants the police to hold a probe into the matter to ascertain the role of others involved in the illegal trade. Verma said the said firm obtained exemption from the payment of entry tax on yarn imported by him by giving a false undertaking. "In the garb of the said exemption, the dealer imported about Rs 6 crore worth of yarn and did not pay any tax on it on the plea that he would convert the yarn into cloth and sell the same as a tax-free item," he said. However, during an inspection, the departmental officials found that the dealer did not even have machinery to manufacture cloth. "It was found that the dealer has managed to evade tax worth more than Rs 30 lakh," Verma said. Apprehending similar malpractice by other dealers, Verma has issued directions to his officers to scrutinise records of all the yarn dealers who had obtained exemption from the payment of entry tax.
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Copies of FIRs on websites soon
Chandigarh, May 19 As the petition filed by advocate Ajay Jagga came up for hearing, the Chandigarh Administration even made it clear that the copies would be uploaded on the website from June 1. During the course of hearing, the Haryana Government claimed that loading the FIRs on the net was not free from problem. Punjab too claimed difficulty in the process by expressing apprehension that defamation proceedings could be initiated in case the FIR was quashed. The Bench, however, refused to accept the contentions by asserting that the accused were being forced to even approach courts for copies of the FIR. In the petition, Jagga had also sought directions for providing the copies of the FIRs to the accused straight away on an application moved to the police station or the trial court concerned. Jagga claimed the directions would be of great help to the economically weaker and “depressed part of the society”, who were unaware of the technical procedures to avail a copy of the FIR. Jagga added: “In many cases, the police officials concerned show reluctance to provide a copy of the FIR and insist that the accused should themselves come in the police station to obtain a copy of the FIR. “In that eventuality, the chances of having been arrested are prominent, which results into jeopardising the right of life and personal liberty of the said named person as in that eventuality, without even getting a chance to move to the concerned court to avail the concession of anticipatory bail, the said persons are straightaway arrested…”
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Six held in Cong leader’s murder case
Amritsar, May 19 Paramraj Singh Umranangal, DIG, Border Range, said nine persons had so far been arrested in the case. Among those arrested today included Narinder Singh, Nirmal Singh, Jagtar singh, Joginder Singh, Harpal Singh and Sahib Singh. The weapon used in the crime was owned by Narinder Singh. The firearm was seized by the police from his residence on the day of the incident. Jagir Singh, Mangat Singh and Major Singh have already been arrested. — TNS
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The smooth, peaceful and fair conduct of civic elections in Punjab is a triumph of democracy in the state. I thank the people for giving a befitting reply to forces who were out to tarnish the image of the state by talking of terror and violence and even going to the extent of demanding that the draconian President's rule be imposed in the state. This is a victory of peace and communal harmony in the state. Despite cynical postures and despite high-voltage confrontationist postures of the Congress, people of the state have stuck to the ideals of peace and harmony in the state and have carried out the polling process in a dignified manner. I am grateful to them for this for nothing is dearer to me than peace and communal harmony in the state. I urge the Opposition to respect democratic norms and focus on people's issues. No purpose is served by raising a false bogey of violence. Punjabis have always risen to deliver a mandate in favour of democracy.
I appreciate the huge turnout for the parishad and samiti elections. However, large-scale violence and booth- capturing by SAD workers is condemnable. In Lambi, the home constituency of the CM, Akali goons burnt vehicles, beat up voters and issued threats to the poll staff. Reports of booth-capturing and violence were received from all over the state. I appreciate Congress workers for maintaining calm despite grave provocation. We have reports that the police remained a mute spectator to naked gundagardi by the Akalis. The role of State Election Commissioner, SS Brar, was also not fair. In Sehna village in Bhadaur, armed SAD workers came in two buses from Jaitu and captured booths. Similar incidents occurred in the Hathara zone of Malerkotla, SambhuKalan, Loh Chimbari and Sekhupur Karkeri in the Ghanaur constituency, Kheri in Sanaur, Tharuna in Shutrana, Samana, Muktsar, Gidderbaha, Jalalabad, Dharmkot, Guru Harsahai and Ferozepur (Rural).
My party questions the moral right of the CM to continue in office if he has to order booth-capturing in his own constituency. The saddest tale in the elections today came from the CM's constituency where six vehicles were burnt. The sight of burning vehicles in the constituency of the Punjab Chief Minister is a telling indicator of the sorry state of affairs. It is evident that there was a certain pattern of violence across the state to browbeat the Opposition. In Gurdaspur, PPP workers were locked up in police stations so that they were unable to vote. In Ferozepur, eight villages were kept out of bounds for PPP workers while in Muktsar there was widespread violence orchestrated by the Akali Dal. It is very clear that the ruling party has lost confidence in the use of money power alone and has had to take recourse to muscle power. The violence in the elections is unprecedented in recent history.
