EC identifies 67 villages where voting is influenced

Ballia, Dec 21 (UNI) Against the backdrop of the Ballia Lok Sabha bypoll scheduled on December 29, the Election Commission has identified 67 such villages in the constituency, where influential people prevent electorate from voting.

Police superintendent L V Anthony Devkumar said here today, special arrangements would be made in these villages to ensure free and fair polling.

A flag march would be taken out in these places on the voting day to instill confidence among the people, he informed.

A police sub-inspector and three constables would be deployed in each of these hamlets.

The 67 villages have been divided into 20 groups and each group would be allocated a mobile contingent comprising para military and PAC jawans.

Mr Devkumar said there were reports that some gram pradhans and influential persons had seized the election photo identity cards and ration cards of the electorate to stop them from voting.

A gram pradhan in Fefna area, Gopal Paswan had already been arrested on such a complaint.

Besides, motor boats manned by police and PAC jawans would be kept at standby on Ghagra and Ganga rivers to prevent anti-social elements from entering Ballia from Bihar.

UNI