The police has registered seven FIRs in
cases related to violence and disruption in the polling process during
the panchayat elections yesterday.
While in some cases votes were tampered with, in others losing candidates and their supporters fled with ballot papers. The police has registered a case against Jasbir Singh who allegedly entered a polling station in Balberha to cast a bogus vote. As polling officials became suspicious, they reported the matter to the policemen, who arrested him.
In Mauliwala village, a polling official was allegedly attacked by a losing candidate along with his supporters. “The accused fled with 193 votes and also attacked a constable and tore his uniform. The accused included Balwant Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Sultan Singh and Harinder Singh,” an official said.
In another incident, police and polling teams were allegedly attacked by a losing candidate from Balverha, Karamjeet Singh, who along with his supporters tried to snatch ballot papers.
In Samana village, a polling agent tore several polled votes after the result was declared against the accused’s candidate. A similar case was reported in Ichheywal village in Bakshiwal. Over 12 persons were booked in Jhulka for allegedly swallowing several ballot papers after stealing these from a polling station. Villagers at many places held protests against the alleged biased attitude of the administration and improper counting of votes.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sonali Giri said, “We have told all the complainants to submit their applications, which will then be scrutinised.”
While in some cases votes were tampered with, in others losing candidates and their supporters fled with ballot papers. The police has registered a case against Jasbir Singh who allegedly entered a polling station in Balberha to cast a bogus vote. As polling officials became suspicious, they reported the matter to the policemen, who arrested him.
In Mauliwala village, a polling official was allegedly attacked by a losing candidate along with his supporters. “The accused fled with 193 votes and also attacked a constable and tore his uniform. The accused included Balwant Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Sultan Singh and Harinder Singh,” an official said.
In another incident, police and polling teams were allegedly attacked by a losing candidate from Balverha, Karamjeet Singh, who along with his supporters tried to snatch ballot papers.
In Samana village, a polling agent tore several polled votes after the result was declared against the accused’s candidate. A similar case was reported in Ichheywal village in Bakshiwal. Over 12 persons were booked in Jhulka for allegedly swallowing several ballot papers after stealing these from a polling station. Villagers at many places held protests against the alleged biased attitude of the administration and improper counting of votes.
Complaints in Ferozepur
The
Ferozepur district administration remained flooded with complaints of
booth capturing, rigging, use of corrupt practices and bogus voting on
Thursday. Deputy Commissioner Manjit Singh Narang said he had received
over 25 representations from various villages. “Most complaints are from
villages where the victory margin has been that of less than 10 votes.”
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sonali Giri said, “We have told all the complainants to submit their applications, which will then be scrutinised.”
