Panchayat polls claim 10 lives, Rs 37 crore in Assam

Guwahati, Mar 12 (UNI) More than Rs 37 crore were spent in conducting the recently held Panchayat elections in Assam, with as many as 10 lives lost in pre-poll violence.

Replying to a question by AGP legislator Dr Alaka Sarma today, State Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Chandan Brahma informed that a total of Rs 37,00,67,035 had been sanctioned and released by the government for conduct of the election, held during December and January.

The largest share of the total expenditure was allotted for summary revision and final printing of Electoral Rolls with Rs 7,87,56,000, while Rs 7.50 lakh was spent for printing of ballot papers.

Mr Brahma, on an earlier occasion during the ongoing Budget Session of the Assam Assembly, had informed that 271 cases had been registered across the state relating to Panchayat poll violence.

Of these, the highest of 38 cases were registered in Dhemaji district, followed by Nagaon with 29 cases, Soniptur with 24 cases and North Lakhimpur with 23 cases.

As many as 10 people were killed during pre-poll violence, with nine of them killed in Goalpara district and one in North Lakhimpur district.

UNI SG LL RL RS1504