One killed in Panchayat polls, 80 per cent turnout recorded

Chandigarh, May 26 (UNI) A BJP-supported candidate was killed and clashes between rival political activists were reported from some places during the Gram Panchayat polls across the state in which about 80 per cent voter turnout was recorded.

The polls, scheduled to elect 79849 members for 12,698 gram panchayats were by and large peaceful though elections were counter-manded in over 350 panchayats, official sources today said.

The Election of Village Dera Baba Basant Puri, block Pathankot of district Gurdaspur has been postponed after the murder of former Sarpanch and BJP candidate Jit Ram following a clash with rival partymen.

Though the polls were not held on party symbols, most candidates were backed by political parties.

A spokesman of the State Election Commission, Punjab said that polls to a few Gram Panchayats have been adjourned due to faulty, insufficient printing of ballot papers or miss-printing of names/symbols of the contesting candidates, or violent incident.

Re-poll would be held in these Panchayats on May 28.

According to a Spokesman of Punjab Police, 49202 security personnel were deployed for security duties during elections and adequate additional security personnel were kept as reserve in tackling any emergent situation.

UNI JN Mir CS1955