Haryana polls: 72.6% turnout as voting ends, 32 injured in violence

Chandigarh, Oct 15: Stray incidents of violence on Wednesday marked the Assembly polls in

leaving 32 persons including 10 policemen injured as 65 per cent of the 1.63 crore voters cast their ballots till 4:30 PM in a keen contest involving Congress, BJP and INLD.

In Hisar district's Barwala, 30 persons including 10 policemen were injured and seven motorcycles were set on fire by a mob after a clash between polling agents of two rival parties, police said. An argument broke out between two polling agents of rival parties leading to the violence.

A case has been registered in this connection, they said. In Sirsa, two persons were injured. "Two persons were injured in firing during a clash between supporters of two groups in Sirsa," Sirsa SP, Mitesh Jain said.

Haryana records 72.6% turnout as voting ends

Someone opened fire after a minor clash took place between INLD and BJP workers in Sirsa. A supporter from each side was injured in the incident and the seriously injured person was hospitalised.

In another incident, the window panes of a car belonging to a supporter of Haryana Lokhit Party Gopal Kanda were broken following a minor clash between the supporters of HLP and INLD in Sirsa. Kanda, a former Haryana minister, is seeking re-election from Sirsa.

Amid tight security, polling commenced in all the 90 Assembly seats at 7 AM and would continue till 6 PM to decide the fate of 1,351 candidates. Counting of votes will take place on October 19. By 4:30 PM, nearly 65 per cent voters had cast votes, officials said.

BJP is contesting for the first time on its own and is eyeing to wrest power from the ruling Congress. In Narnaund, BJP candidate from the Assembly segment and chief ministerial aspirant Capt Abhimanyu alleged that attempts to capture booth were made in Baans village in the constituency at the behest of rival INLD, which vehemently denied the charge.

PTI