Violence in IIIrd phase of urban local bodies poll in UP

Lucknow, Nov 3 (UNI) Sporadic violence along with charges of rigging and booth capturing were reported from several places during the third and final phase of polling for the urban local bodies in Uttar Pradesh today.

At least one death was reported while four others were injured in group clash during the polling.

A Congress supporter was killed in a firing at Karhal in Mainpuri district after a clash between the ruling Samajwadi party and Congress supporters. Vehicle of SP MP Dharmendra Yadav, nephew of chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, was also attacked by some miscreants in the incident after which at least three vehicles were torched by the irate mob.

However, officials are yet to confirm the death of the Congress supporter in Mainpuri.

Last night, a supporter of SP was killed in Ghiraur in the Mainpuri district in pre-poll related violence.

Reports of groups clashes have been reported from Deoria, Kannauj, Aligarh and Pratapgarh.

At Kannuaj clash took place after polling in Saurikh nagar Panchayat was cancelled following irregularities in the ballot paper.

A report from Deoria said, stones were pelted at the residence of a candidate constesting Nagar Panchayat polls. In Pratapgarh, four BSP supporters were arrested in connection with poll related violence.

In the first two phases large-scale violence and rigging were witnessed in almost all parts of the state. One person was killed and over 70 were injured in poll-related violence in the two phases of polling.

In the final phase, polling for the Nagar Panchayat (Town Area) and Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam would be held along with repolling at all the centres from where complaints of rigging and violence were received by the State Election Commission (SEC), during the first and second phase of polling held on October 28 and 31 .

State Election Commissioner Aparmita Prasad Singh told UNI here today that polling was underway in a peaceful note for last phase of polling.

An estimated 20 per cent of electorate have exercised their franchise in the first four hours of polling, SEC officials said.

Altogether five companies of central forces accompanied with over 100 companies of PAC and 85,000 strong home guard along with district police would ensure a free and fair polling for the elections, which were termed 'semi-final' for all political parties before the assembly polls next year.

About 4.6 million electorate would exercise their franchise in 5478 polling booths to elect 4999 ward members in 410 Nagar Panchayats in the state. Altogether 3015 candidates are in the fray for the chairman of the nagar panchayat while 17171 candidates were trying their luck for the ward members of the nagar panchayat.

Over one million voters would also elect 80 ward members and a Mayor for the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam polls today.

The SEC has banned entry of all ministers, Members of Parliament and legislators in their respective constitutencies in order to conduct free and fair polls.

In its directive issued to all district authorities, the SEC has asked them to ensure no minister, MP or legislator were allowed to stay in their respective constitutencies or home districts after the end of the campaign deadline. The order would also be effective for the former ministers, MPs and legisalators.

Counting of votes will be undertaken on November 6.

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