Stray incidents of violence mar Punjab panchayat poll

Tribune News Service

Updated At : 11:01 PM Oct 15, 2024 IST

An elderly person showing his Aadhar card at the polling booth in Ludhiana where he had come to cast his vote for the Punjab Panchayat polls. Photo: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN

The panchayat polls in Punjab saw incidents of clashes, including firing, as the voting to elect gram panchayat members concluded amid tight security arrangements on Tuesday.

Voting for sarpanches and panches through ballots started at 8 am and concluded at 4 pm, officials said.

Though the overall poll percentage is yet to come, districts such as Fazilka, Sangrur, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and Mohali saw a voter turnout of 67.26 per cent, 67.53 per cent, 68 per cent, 58.9 per cent, 57.99 per cent, 59 per cent and 65.15 per cent respectively.

The counting of votes took place at the polling stations, the officials said.

A firing incident was reported outside a polling booth at Sohan Sain Bhagat village in Tarn Taran district, leaving a man injured. Mandeep Singh was rushed to a hospital where his condition was stated to be out of danger.

A police official said a scuffle took place between two groups, adding that the matter is being investigated.

Another firing incident was reported from Khudda village in Patiala district, leaving one person injured.

A police official said several unidentified people arrived at a polling booth, allegedly manhandled the polling staff and took away a ballot box.

Subsequently, they left the ballot box behind in a nearby field, the official said.

Villagers alleged that some people tried to capture the booth. Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi, who visited the spot, alleged that some unidentified people took away the ballot box and tore off ballot papers. He demanded strict action in the matter.

At Kotla Mehar Singh village in Moga, gunshots were fired in the air.

A station house officer in Patiala's Patran was injured after unidentified people threw stones outside a polling station at Karimpur village. The incident took place after some villagers tried to enter the polling booth after the voting was over and police stopped them.

At Ballagan village in Amritsar's Rajasansi, two groups clashed and threw stones at each other at a polling booth.

Two warring groups clashed and threw stones at each other in Moga's Masitan village. Similarly, two groups clashed in Kapurthala's Sawal village.

At a polling booth at Lohke Khurd village in Ferozepur's Zira, an unidentified person threw ink in a ballot box in an apparent bid to spoil the ballot papers. An official said the incident has been brought to the notice of senior officials.

In Nawanshahr’s Chakk Kalan village, a woman candidate sought cancellation of the voting after finding the incorrect printing of a poll symbol allotted to her.

Sub-Inspector Lakha Singh (53), who was posted on election duty at Dhilwan village in Barnala district, died, a police official said.

After he felt uneasy, he was taken to a hospital where he died, the official added. (With PTI)

Counting on till late

October 15, 2024 11:01 pm

In Fatehpur Rajputtan village in Sanaur, counting not completed till late into the night as some trouble is created by some persons, alleging bias. The tehsildar and DSP have reached the spot.

Incidents of violence reported from Patiala villages

October 15, 2024 7:38 pm

Patiala: One person suffered a bullet injury after some workers fired at a polling booth at Khudda village around 3.30 pm. Earlier, Patiala saw 59 per cent polling on Tuesday, while in many villages people were sitting on dharna against alleged highhandedness of the police and ruling party supporters. At Khudda village of Sanaur constituency, armed supporters of a political party trespassed into the polling station and fled with the ballot box which was later recovered burnt from a nearby farm. A firing incident earlier left two persons injured in the same polling booth, with Sarabjit Singh admitted to the hospital with an alleged gunshot injury in the abdomen. Meanwhile, police said they are investigating the matter. In two other villages, scuffles and stone-pelting left five people injured. In some villages, locals pelted the police with stones, alleging favouritism, and later sat on a dharna.

Those backed by ruling party refuse to accept defeat

October 15, 2024 7:34 pm

Patiala: In many villages, those backed by ruling party refused to accept defeat despite counting of votes thrice. At Harchandpura village, two women rival candidates sat on a dharna outside the polling booth as the declaration of results was delayed with both claiming victory. Polling agents were gheraoed as the one announced the winner was being opposed by the AAP-backed candidate who refused to accept the result. In the counting at Harchandpura village, NRI Jashanpreet Kaur, who was announced the winner after the counting of votes, was later declared the loser. Villagers gathered at the counting centre and raised slogans against the state government.

Clash in Kapurthala, 4 injured

October 15, 2024 7:12 pm

Four people were injured at a polling booth at Sawal village in Kapurthala district as two opposing groups clashed during the Panchayat polls. They attacked each other with sharp-edged weapons.

58 per cent voting in Ludhiana district till 4 pm

October 15, 2024 5:33 pm

District Election Office said 58 per cent votes were polled in Ludhiana till 4 pm

Firing in Patiala, 2 injured

October 15, 2024 3:27 pm

One person opened fire at his rival political faction outside a polling booth in Khudde village. “We are looking into the matter and action will be taken as per law," said DSP Gurdev Singh Dhaliwal. “The injured has been shifted to the hospital and we are yet to record the statement of the injured. Prima facie it appears that two rival factions had a face off in the polling station, which led to the firing incident just few meters away from the polling booth. A fire arm injury is suspected and we are yet to ascertain if two or more persons are injured," he said

28.20 per cent voting in Malerkotla till 12

October 15, 2024 1:18 pm

District Election Office said 28.20 per cent votes were polled at Malerkotla till noon. Inputs from Mahesh Sharma, Malerkotla

13.2 per cent polling in Mohali till 10 am

October 15, 2024 12:20 pm

Polling underway at a brisk pace in most of the 266 panchayats in Mohali district with 13.2 percentage polling till 10 am. Majri block took the lead with 16 percent polling in the first two hours, followed by Kharar (15%), Dera Bassi (14.7%), and SAS Nagar at 7 percent till 10am. Long queues of residents, especially women, were seen at Bhankharpur, Landran, Mullanpur, Saneta and Jharmari villages of the district. Voters complained that they were standing in queues for almost two hours.ADC (D) Sonam Chaudhary visited several villages in Kharar block and said, "Polling is going on smoothly and people are coming out since morning to cast their vote early so that they are free for their work whole day." As many as 266 gram panchayats are witnessing polls in Mohali district on Tuesday. 63 villages have elected their panchayats unanimously. Inputs from Gaurav Kanthwal, Mohali

Injured in attack, Bagrian sarpanch nominee camps at booth to boost supporters

October 15, 2024 12:02 pm

Despite being injured seriously in an attack by alleged 10 armed assailants a few days ago, former sarpanch of Bagrian village, who is contesting election for the post of sarpanch, camped near a polling station to boost morale of his supporters. The police have already arrested five of the main accused but the Bagrian polling booth was added to the list of sensitive polling stations and extra force was deployed to prevent any untoward incident as fallout of the earlier attack. Showing satisfaction over security arrangements made by the police, Paramjit Singh said he would camp outside the polling booth till the process for polling and counting is completed. A group of unknown miscreants, allegedly armed with sharp-edged weapons, had attacked Paramjit Singh on Friday when he was pasting his posters at the village bus stand. Having corroborated fragments of evidence collected by studying CCTV footage and witnesses, the police identified the assailants and succeeded in arresting them from different places. inputs from Mahesh Sharma, Malerkotla

Wrong symbol, sarpanch candidate demand cancellation of elections

October 15, 2024 11:25 am

Supporters of Asha Rani, one of the candidates for the post of Sarpanch in Chakk Kalan village in Banga, Nawanshahr, protested against the administration and has demanded cancellation of the elections. As per information, Asha Rani's election symbol was a 'matka pot', but when the voters went inside to vote, they found 'bucket' symbol in front of her name. This created ruckus at the booth. Supporters of Asha Rani demanded cancellation of the elections. Asha Rani said, "Our elderly don't know how to read. They were told to vote for 'matka pot', this is not acceptable," she said. Inputs from Aakanksha N Bhardwaj from Nawanshahr

Gunshots fired at Sohal Sain village; 4 injured

October 15, 2024 11:19 am

A firing incident has been reported as the voting was underway at Sohal Sain village in Tarn Taran. Four people have been injured. Inputs from Ruchika M Khanna

Khuddian cast his vote in Khuddian Gulab Singh village

October 15, 2024 11:02 am

Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and his son Sumeet after they cast their votes at Khuddian Gulab Singh village in Muktsar district. Inputs from Archit Watts

50 pc for women

October 15, 2024 10:12 am

Fifty per cent of the seats are reserved for women. The ballot papers will also have an option for NOTA. inputs from Ruchika M Khanna

Bogus voter lists found in Kotla Nihang and Tappriyan villages

October 15, 2024 10:07 am

The controlling officer for panchayat elections has caught bogus votes in Kotla Nihang and Tappriyan villages in Ropar district. Acting on a complaint received late last night, the Ropar district administration has seized the bogus voter list ballot and asked the polling staff to be vigilant. Intimation in this regard has been sent to the state election commission. Inputs from Rajmeet Singh

Janta Darhi Wala arrives on beat of drum to cast vote

October 15, 2024 9:59 am

Having shifted to nearby Jagera village in Ludhiana district, Gurjant Singh of Wazidgarh Rohno village of this youngest district of Punjab, came all the way on beat of drum to cast his vote for ‘last’ time. “As I have decided to settle at Jagera village permanently I will now get my vote deleted from here and make new one there (Jagera), so I chose to declare it openly with beat of drum,” said Gurjant Singh, known in the region as Janta Darhi Wala. Gurjant Singh is a barber and is popular among the youth for cutting beard and mustaches. He was welcomed by villagers and supporters of various candidates contesting election for post of sarpanch and panches. Members of his family were also jubilant to their native village on pretext of casting votes in a unique manner. Inputs from Mahesh Sharma, Malerkotla

3-cornered fight in Punjab panchayat poll

October 15, 2024 9:56 am

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/3-cornered-fight-in-punjab-panchayat-poll/

Raja warring monitors polls in Ludhiana, ask party workers to stay alert

October 15, 2024 9:38 am

Punjab Pradesh Congress committee has asked all its district unit in-charges and former and sitting MLAs to be on alert, regarding complaints of abuse of power and government machinery by the ruling AAP government during the polling. PPCC chief Amarinder Raja warring, who has stationed himself in Ludhiana, said he would be cross crossing the state and was monitoring the conduct of the polls. He said there were reports of hurdles being created for the opposition supported candidates. “We have asked our district presidents to verify the complaints and update him regularly”. Other senior leaders like the CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Rana KP Singh, Sukhjinder Randhawa and other are already there in their respective assembly segments. Inputs from Rajmeet Singh

Patiala DIG, DC visit polling booths

October 15, 2024 9:35 am

Senior officers, including Patiala DIG Mandeep Sidhu, DC Preeti Yadav and SSP Nanak Singh start visiting different villages and visit polling booths. Inputs from Aman Sood, Patiala

Polling starts peacefully in Malerkotla

October 15, 2024 9:32 am

Polling started peacefully at all 278 polling booths at 176 villages of Malerkotla, Ahmedgarh and Amargarh subdivisions today morning. Daily wagers, shopkeepers and household women started queuing up ahead of 8 am when polling was scheduled to commence. Polling is being held for election of sarpanch and one panch at Kasba Bharaal village where eight members of panchayat were elected unanimously earlier. Malikpur, Jandali Kalan, Baurhai, Kanganwal, Dehliz Khurad, Kup, Nathumajra, Khurad and Bhogiwal villages were among those localities where supporters showed higher enthusiasm for persuading voters to reach polling booths at earliest. With inputs from Mahesh Sharma from Malerkotla

1,001 booths hypersensitive

October 15, 2024 9:25 am

The State Election Commission has declared 1,001 booths as hypersensitive, with maximum number of these booths being in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Patiala, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur. As many as 1.33 crore voters are expected to participate in these polls to elect panches and Sarpanches for 13229 villages in the state. The votes are being cast through ballot papers. As many as 1.06 lakh candidates have thrown their hat in the election arena. These elections are not being fought on party symbols, but the parties are aggressively supporting their candidates. With inputs from Ruchika M Khanna

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