Two killed, over a dozen injured in clashes in PRI polls

Chandigarh, May 12 (UNI) Two people were killed while a Congress candidate was among over two dozen persons injured in sporadic incidents of violence as about 50 per cent of the 1.51 crore voters cast their votes in the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections till 1600 hrs today.

According to latest police reports, a Congress worker Gurjant Singh was stabed to death by rival party members near a polling station in village Waringsubbasingh in Tarn Taran district.

Earlier, a 65-year-old voter identified as Shamsher Singh died in Ropar after receiving a blow on the head following a clash between Congress and SAD workers in Dhoom Kheri village in Ropar district.

The deceased was waiting outside a polling station to cast his vote when SAD and Congress workers clashed with each other following objections raised by one party after the polling agent of a rival party tried to help an aged woman cast her vote.

Punjab Election Commission sources here said that the polling which began at 0800 hours this morning gradually picked up as the day progressed. The sources said that barring a few incidents of violence the polling process was going on peacefully.

Eds here pick up suitably from earlier series.

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