Heavy polling in AP Panchayat polls

Hyderabad, Jul 29 (UNI) An estimated 75 to 80 percent of voters exercised their right to franchise in the first phase of the Panchayat elections in Andhra Pradesh, amidst tight security today.

The State Election Commission, which officially announced that 50.39 percent votes were polled by 1100 hrs, was expecting the percentage to be around 75 to 80 percent by the time the polling concluded.

Barring stray incidents of violence and police firing in the air in Kurnool district, the polling passed off peacefully. In Kurnool, police opened fire in the air to disperse clashing groups and in Chennur in Kadapa district, TDP workers laid seige to the police station protesting the arrest of their leader Rana Pratap.

Several polling officials absented themselves from duty, fearing Maoist attacks in view of the recent encounter in Nallamala forests where eight insurgents, including the Maoist State Secretary Madhav was killed.

But in Mangapet the native village of Madhav in Karimnagar district, heavy polling was reported.

The Authorities conducted the polls with the help of anganwadi workers, private teachers and others where polling staff had abstained.

Police made elaborate arrangements to maintain law and order and excepting a tractor carrying voters somersaulting, killing three women, there were no casualities.

Two persons were seriously injured in Tippalavalasa village under Ranasthali mandal in Srikakulam district when two groups clashed with each other. Polling was countermanded there. Reports of stone pelting and clashes were reported from different parts of the state.

However, no one was seriously injured.

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