Incidents of violence, firing mark UP civic poll

Lucknow, Oct 31: Sporadic incidents of violence, group clashes and firing were reported from different cities of Uttar Pradesh where polling for the nagar nigams and mayoral seats are being held today.

Atleast 20 people were injured in group clashes and subsequent police lathi-charge in Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi.

In the UP capital, security guards at the state election office fired in the air to disperse a mob who wanted to enter the premises for lodging complaint against rigging.

An independent candidate, S N Tripathi, was also taken in to custody after the incident, while five people were injured in the clash.

Incidents of minor clashes were reported from Kaiserbagh and other areas of Lucknow. People also blocked the busy Lucknow-Kanpur national highway near Sarojninagar to protest rigging.

Report from Agra said police resorted to lathi-charge at Bandu Katra polling booth, while two candidates clashed over fake voting near Sevla polling booth. Three police vehicle were damaged by the mob and four people recieved minor injuries.

Another report from Kanpur said police used force to disperse a mob trying to enter a polling booth at Rawatpur, in which six people were injured including a homeguard jawan.

A Varanasi report said a clash between Congress and Samajwadi Party supporters took place at Rewari Talab locality in which Congress leader Maqbool Alam was seriously injured. In another incident in the area, ex-former BJP deputy mayor Sanjay Rai sat on dharna after his car was ransacked by some people.

Meanwhile, State Election Commission (SEC) sources here confirmed that they received several complaints of rigging and fake voting and were investigating into each and every complaint.

However, till 1400 hrs an estimated over 40 per cent of the electorate had exercised their franchise to elect 900 ward members and 11 mayors in 11 nagar nigams of UP.

UNI