Second phase election peaceful with high turnout:Raj Kanojia

Kolkata, Apr 22 (UNI) Describing today's second phase Assembly elections to 66 seats in four South Bengal districts as ''absolutely peaceful'', Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia today said about 70 per cent voters exercised their franchise till 1700 hours in each district.

Briefing newspersons here, Mr Kanojia said barring the on-functioning of five Electronic Voting Machines(EVMS) in as many booths and the death of a BSF jawan at Uluberia in Howrah district, there was no report of any untoward incident.

Referring to the huge turnout of voters since morning in almost every booth, he said a large number of people were still standing in long queues even after the end of the scheduled time of polling at 1700 hours and they would be allowed to cast their votes till late in the evening.

To a query he said though majority of para-mlilitary forces, deployed from outside the state, would be withdrawn by tonight, some of them would be retained in each of the four districts to prevent any post poll incident in the districts.

UNI ABA SJC PA VC1900