20 to 25 per cent voting in UP bypolls

Lucknow, Apr 12 (UNI) Between 20 and 25 per cent turnout was reported during bypoll for the two Lok Sabha and three Assembly seats.

The polling in Lok Sabha constituencies of Azamgarh and Khalilabad as well as Assembly constituencies of Colonelganj (Gonda), Muradnagar (Ghaziabad) and Bilgram (Hardoi) started at 0700 hrs in the morning and nearly 25 per cent voting was recorded till 1200 hrs, UP Chief Electoral Officer Anuj Kumar Bishnoi told UNI here today.

All necessary arrangements were put in place to ensure free and fair polling in these constituencies, besides elaborate security arrangements taken in this regard, he informed.

Meanwhile, DIG, Basti range, P V Ramashashtri informed that a low turnout 10.1, 12, 11.35 per cent was recorded in Basti, Siddharthnagar and Sant Kabirnagar districts of the Basti division respectively till 1000 hrs in the morning.

Uttar Pradesh government had issued shoot-at-sight orders against any miscreant indulging in booth capturing and rigging.

The borders of Khalilabad parliamentary segment surrounding the Basti, Sant Kabirnagar and Siddharthnagar districts of Basti division had been sealed as part of the excercise to hold free and fair polls.

The bypolls' results would be declared on April 16.

UNI SB/ATI RS GT DS1230