UP: Candidate shot at in clash during village panchayat polls

Mathura, Nov 29: A candidate contesting for the office of village head was shot at and police was assaulted in a clash between supporters of rival groups at Sainva polling centre falling under Shergarh police station during village Panchayat elections on Saturday, Nov 28.

"On the complaint of sector magistrate, FIR under sections 332/353/395/397 IPC has been registered against four named persons including Rajesh Pahalwan, a candidate contesting election for the office of Pradhan (village head) and over four dozen others," DySP Atul Kumar Srivastava said.

Trouble started when Sadhana Sharma, a contestant, entered the polling booth and Pahalwan objected. "She was trying to influence voters inside the booth. She was also trying for bogus voting," Rajesh alleged.

This lead to altercation between the groups outside the booth which turned into clash as police tried to intervene. "During the clash, a bullet hit Rajesh and his supporters mistook it as an act of police and attacked the cops," SDM Ram Araj Yadav said.

Meanwhile, 75.06 per cent of the polling was recorded for the three blocks, where election for the village panchayat was held.

"While polling in Chaumuha block registered as 72.02 per cent, polling in Chhatta block was 75.99 per cent and polling in Nandgaon block was registered as 76.01 per cent. No untoward incident has taken place inside any polling booth," DM Rajesh Kumar claimed.

PTI