Cong candidate injured in stone throwing in AP village

Vijayawada, Aug 2: A Congress sarpanch candidate A Katam Raju and some of his supporters were injured in stone throwing allegedly by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists at Guldimetla village in Chandralapadu mandal during the second phase of gram panchayat election, which began this morning.

Krishna District Superintendent of Police M K Singh told UNI that soon after the polling began supporters of the rival parties hurled stones at each other.

About 20 supporters of TDP entered a booth in the village, poured water into the ballot boxes and took away the ballot papers, resulting in abrupt halting of polling. The polling in the village was likely to be postponed, Mr Singh said.

The situation was under control, he said adding that a strong contingent of police force was posted in the village.

Meanwhile, Sub-divisional Magistrate Bhanu Prasad, under the directive of the State Election Commission, promulgated prohibitory orders section 144 from 0600 hrs today to 1200 hrs tomorrow in G Konduru, Mylavaram, Kanchikacharla, Veerulapadu, Nandigama, Chandrlapadu, Penuganchiprolu, Vatsavai and Jaggayapet mandals.

Polling was being held for 215 panchayats and 2,217 ward members in 14 mandals of Vijayawada Revenue Division.

Twentythree panchayat sarpanches were elected unanimously.

The polling, started at 0700 hrs would continue till 1300 hrs and counting would take place thereafter, official sources said.

UNI