B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Repolling in two villages today
Nandgarh (Bathinda), July 4
Repolling at two booths of Rai Ke Kalan village in Sangat block of the district will be held tomorrow following a massive dharna on the Bathinda- Badal highway by the agitated residents of the two villages.

Villagers hold protests as RO takes a U-turn on poll results
Faridkot, July 4
Accusing a chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) of applying pressure on the presiding officers to declare his "defeated" supporters as elected sarpanch in Warah Ka Daraka and New Rori Kapoora villages of Faridkot, the residents of the villages blocked the Kotkapura-Muktsar and Faridkot-Kotkapura roads in protest.

SHO suspended for dereliction of duty
Faridkot, July 4
Hours after four ballot boxes were looted from Jalalabad East village late at night yesterday, the Moga SSP placed Gopal Chand, the SHO of the area, under suspension for dereliction of duty.

Repolling in two villages today
Jupinderjit Singh/TNS

Nandgarh (Bathinda), July 4
Repolling at two booths of Rai Ke Kalan village in Sangat block of the district will be held tomorrow following a massive dharna on the Bathinda- Badal highway by the agitated residents of the two villages.

The village along with the adjoining Bahadurgarh Jandian village saw a clash in which gunshots were also fired. The police booked unknown persons today for causing violence and snatching ballot boxes. Some miscreants had snatched ballot boxes from booth numbers 5 and 6 in Rai ke Kalan just when the counting was almost over. Supporters of the candidate for post of Sarpanch Iqbal Jeet Kaur staged a dharna today when they learnt that repolling would be held in the entire village.

They argued that the counting at other booths was done and there was no need for re-polling there. They blocked the road in front of Nandgarh police station under which the villages fall.

Returning officer Mohammed Tayab said re-polling would take place only in booths 5 and 6 of Rai Ke Kalan and for one booth in Bahadurgarh Jandian village tomorrow. 

Villagers hold protests as RO takes a U-turn on poll results
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, July 4
Accusing a chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) of applying pressure on the presiding officers to declare his "defeated" supporters as elected sarpanch in Warah Ka Daraka and New Rori Kapoora villages of Faridkot, the residents of the villages blocked the Kotkapura-Muktsar and Faridkot-Kotkapura roads in protest.

First, the protesters staged a dharna in front of the residence of the CPS on Kotkapura-Faridkot road in the morning and then shifted their dharna to Muktsar-Kotkapura road.

Waraha Ka Daraka residents alleged that after the counting had concluded, the presiding officer declared Gurdeep Singh as winner over his rival Gurdev Singh by a margin of 21 votes. "Then, my supporters were celebrating my victory. All of sudden, the presiding officer declared Gurdev as the winner," alleged Gurdeep.

Similar was the allegation of Suba Singh in New Rori Kapoora village. He said about 30 minutes after the presiding officer declared him the winner, the decision was reversed and his rival Binder Singh was announced the winner.

"Under pressure from the Kotkapura MLA and CPS Mantar Singh Brar, the presiding officers changed the election results not only in Warah Ka Daraka and New Rori Kapoora but in six other villages where the CPS declared his supporters as the elected sarpanch despite their defeat in the election," alleged Jaskaran Singh and Pyra Singh, who were taking part in the dharna.

Faridkot DC Ravi Bhagat said the candidate can challenge the decision by filing a petition. He expressed his helplessness in interfering in the matter at this stage as he can review the decision only after the poll process is complete.

SHO suspended for dereliction of duty

Faridkot, July 4
Hours after four ballot boxes were looted from Jalalabad East village late at night yesterday, the Moga SSP placed Gopal Chand, the SHO of the area, under suspension for dereliction of duty.

It is alleged that at around 11.30 pm, when counting was underway, the SHO left the polling station and 25 unidentified youths fled after snatching ballot boxes from the polling staff. Repolling has already been ordered at this polling station, said Amit Kumar, ADC, Moga.

Moga SSP SS Grewal said Gopal Chand was deputed at Jalalabad East village due to the sensitivity of the polling station but he had left before the completion of the counting and the ballot boxes were looted due to his absence, said the SSP. — TNS