Three killed as violence mars UP panchayat polls

 Three persons, including a candidate for the post of village ‘pradhan’ (chief), were killed and over two dozen injured, some seriously, as violence marred the first phase of polling for gram panchayats in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.

Incidents of clashes, firing and booth capturing were reported from several parts of the state, according to the police sources here.

Two persons were killed when rival groups clashed at Chirra village in UP’s Mainpuri district during the polling, sources said adding that six others received injuries and were admitted to the hospital.

Tense atmosphere

Tension prevailed in the village following the incident and senior security personnel were deployed in strength as a precautionary measure.

A candidate for the post of village chief, Awadhesh Kumar, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Etmadpur area in Agra district on Saturday.

Kumar was fired at point blank range when he came out of his house to leave for the polling areas.

At least a dozen persons were injured in clashes between supporters of rival candidates in Etah district.

The condition of six of the injured was stated to be critical, sources said.
Firearms were used in the clashes, they added. A police team also came under attack in the district.

Baton-charge

Reports of clashes have also been received from Amroha, Ballia, Barabanki, Muzaffarnagar and some other districts also. Sources said that at some places police had to make lathi charge to disperse warring groups. Three persons were injured in violent clashes during the polling at Sant Kabir Nagar district.

Sources said that miscreants at some places tried to capture polling booths forcing the security personnel to use force.

Over 1.25 lakh candidates were in the fray for over 15,000 gram pradhan seats in the first phase of polling in the state.

Sources said that security personnel had been deployed in strength in the districts were polling was conducted in the first phase.

 Police had also detained several persons in connection with the violent incidents.