Third phase of panchayat polls ends in AP

Hyderabad, Aug 6 (UNI) Barring stray incidents of hurling stone by rival groups and police firing in the air to quell clashing mobs today, the third phase of Panchayat elections in Andhra Pradesh was by and large peaceful.

Elections to 554 gram panchayats of the 6,923 scheduled for the third and last phase were postponed due to the grim flood situation across the state.

In Prakasham district, ten people were injured in a clash between Congress and TDP workers. A woman was reportedly killed in the clashes. Another woman was hit by a stray bullet when police opened fire in Singanapalli village under Auk mandal in Kurnool district.

Police opened fire in the air in Sydapuram village under Jammalamadugu division in Kadapa district following a clash between Congress and TDP groups. Circle Inspector of police in the faction zone Venkataramappa and five others were injured in the course of stone throwing.

Services of students were requisitioned for poll duties as several election staff did not turn up for duties, particularly in naxal-infested districts, claiming to be suffering from Chikungunya.

While polling was reported to be dull in Srikakulam due to torrential rain, it was brisk in all other areas. About 70 to 80 per cent votes were cast by 1300 hrs when polling ended. The counting was in progress.

In Karimnagar district where rains stopped, 80 per cent polling was reported in major panchyayats.

Though polling was peaceful in Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts and Miryalaguda in Nalgonda district, eight people were reported to have been injured in a clash between activists of CPI and TDP in Kammapalli village.

Clashes were reported in Gollalakoderu under Naidupet mandal in Nellore district, Gudivada under Masulipatnam division and from the faction-ridden Guntur district.

In Chillakur panchayat in Nellore district, Chella Chengayya, a voter threatened to end his life by climbing a water tank, protesting against not finding his name in the voters' list. He was however persuaded by the police to climb down.

UNI JRK ROY PR HT1822