26 people injured during counting of TTAADC village comm polls

Agartala, Feb 26 (PTI) At least 26 people including apoliceman were injured during counting of votes of the 527Village Committee elections in Tripura Tribal Areas AutonomusDistrict Council (TTAADC) today as the ruling Left Frontmaintained its winning spree capturing most of the seats.

At least 26 people including a policeman were injuredwhen the supporters of the ruling CPI-M and oppositionIndigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) hurled stonesat each other at Jampuijala in West Tripura district, about 35km from here, police said.

A police constable, identified as Ranjan Debbarma died ofcardiac arrest on the spot due to tension.

Trouble started when the election result of Koloibarivillage after recounting went in favour of ruling CPI-M.

"In the first round CPM had won the seat with a margin ofonly one vote against INPT. Recounting resulted in a tie andwhen the second recounting was conducted the seat went to CPM.

The opposition INPT alleged conspiracy behind it which led topelting stones," police said.

As the police personnel led by officer-in-charge ofTakarjala police station sought to disperse the warring mobs,the officer-in-charge was hit on head by a stone hurled athim.

He was rushed to hospital in critical condition, policesaid adding Circle Inspector, Ajay Chakma and his accompanyingpolice men opened blank fire to disperse the mob.

Election department sources said, counting for the 527village committee elections held on Wednesday last startedtoday.

The ruling CPI-M has already one third of the 527village committees and is far ahead of the opposition partiesin many seats where counting is on progress, sources saidadding the counting of ballots are likely to be completed bytomorrow.