70 percent vote in Haryana panchayat polls, three killed

CHANDIGARH - At least 70 percent polling was recorded in the first phase Haryana’s ‘panchayat’ (council) elections Sunday as post-poll violence claimed three lives and injured dozen others, officials said.

“About 70 percent polling was held but exact figure will be ascertained afterwards. Polls were held in the 75 blocks of 13 districts - Ambala, Bhiwani, Fatehabad, Faridabad, Jind, Jhajjar, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Mahendergarh (at Narnaul), Sirsa, Sonepat, Mewat (at Nuh) and Palwal,” State Election Commissioner Dharam Vir said.

“As per the schedule, votes for the offices of 20,334 panches (council members), 2,083 sarpanches (headmen), 938 members panchayat samitis (council committees) and 128 members zila parishads (district-level councils) were polled today,” he said.

The officials said that as per preliminary reports, there might be re-voting in about 80 polling stations in Mewat, Palwal, Faridabad, Jhajjar and Bhiwani districts.

“The exact number of polling stations where the re-poll is to be announced would be determined after the reports are received from the officials,” he said.

Police officials said three people were killed and over a dozen injured in violence during the elections in various parts of the state.

According to the police, after the poll two rival groups clashed at Jamalgarh village in Mewat district.

“During the clash one group started firing, in which three people were killed and one was injured,” Mewat Superintendent of Police Ram Singh told IANS.

In another incident in the Jhajjar district, miscreants forcibly entered a polling booth, after the polls were over. They destroyed ballot papers and one EVM machine, police said.

Following this a rival group allegedly attacked them.

“During the attack, nine to ten people were injured. Four policemen also suffered injuries,” a Jhajjar police official said.

Violence was also reported in Palwal and Bhiwani districts.

The second phase of panchayat polls will be held June 12.