Violence mars Panchayat polls By A Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Jan 9 – The third phase of the Panchayat polls was marred by incidents of violence and rigging, particularly in the districts of Hailakandi and Karimganj in the Barak Valley and the State Election Commission will have to order re-polling in at least 170 polling stations. Briefing newspersons this evening, the State Election Commissioner CK Sarma said that altogether 74 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in the third phase of the polls today. He said that 70 per cent of the voters cast their votes in Nalbari district, 75 per cent in Barpeta district, 80 per cent in Bongaigaon district, 74 per cent in Dhubri district, 70 per cent in Cachar district and around 78 per cent of the voters cast their votes in Morigaon district. The figures of Hailakandi and Karimganj district could not be compiled till late this evening.
Sarma said that apart from the Barak Valley districts, polling was by and large peaceful in other parts of the state. He said that according to the Deputy Commissioner of Hailakandi district, re-polling would have to be ordered in around a hundred polling stations in the district. He said that the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Election Commission would visit Hailakandi tomorrow to take stock of the situation. He, however, claimed that security arrangements were made as far as possible and admitted that it is not possible to provide adequate security personnel in all the polling stations.
Meanwhile, Dhubri district also witnessed tense situation in several polling stations following clashes between supporters of Congress and AUDF and police resorted to blank firing in the polling stations located in Jhograpara under Dhubri police station to bring the situation under control.
Our Correspondents report: Bongaigaon: Apart from a few sporadic incidents, polling passed off peacefully in Bongaigaon district and up to 3 pm, more than 70 percent of the voters exercised their franchise. The Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) made last minute efforts to woo the voters and some members of the political parties even tried to mobilise voters last night well after the expiry of the time for campaigning.
Hailakandi: Incidents of violence marred the Panchayat polls in Hailakandi district and more than a hundred persons were injured in group clashes. A few poll officials and a police man were also injured and one of the seriously injured poll official had to be shifted to the Silchar Medical College hospital for treatment. The district administration had to call in the Army to bring the situation in the district under control.
In fact, the disruption of the poll process started last night when poll officials started moving out to their respective destinations as miscreants tried to snatch away ballot papers and boxes and several poll personnel were injured in the process. The poll officials refused to carry out their duty because of lack of security and senior police officials persuaded them to move out to their respective destinations assuring that adequate security would be provided to them.
But despite the assurances by the police and district administration officials, the poll personnel came under attack from miscreants and more than 500 poll personnel returned to the strong room this morning and gave vent to their anger by setting fire to the ballot papers and boxes. The Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner also rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control and finally the administration had to call in Army to bring the situation under control.
Morigaon: Around 72 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in the Panchayat polls in Morigaon district and the polling was by and large peaceful apart from a few incidents of clashes between Congress and AUDF supporters.
Badarpur: Sporadic incidents of violence marred the polls in Karimganj and the administration has ordered re-polling in five polling stations in Nilambazar circle. Several incidents of attempts of rigging, issuing threats to voters etc were reported from various parts of the district, where around 65 percent of the voters exercised their franchise.
Gauripur: More than 70 per cent of the voters cast their votes in the Panchayat polls in Dhubri and tight security arrangements were made to ensure violence-free polls following the assault of legislator Mohibul Haque and a few of his supporters on the night of January 7.
