Polling staff stage dharna for facilities in Bellary

The staff who had been lodged in a college building at Hagaribommanahalli staged the dharna and threatended to boycot tomorrow's poll work if their demand for facilities were not met with and their honorarium for poll duty was not enhanced.

Tahasildar Nafeeza Muthalib who rushed to the spot assured to enhance their remuneration from Rs 100 to Rs 200 and pleaded with them to manage with the existing facilities, which was turned down by agitators.District Deputy Commissioner B Shivappa who held discussions with the agitators managed to convince them to withdraw the dharna assuring that each of them will get Rs 300 pay for the election duty, official sources said.

The first phase of Zilla and Taluk Panchayat election is slated for tomorrow in 12 districts of Karnataka