2 killed in poll violence in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW - Two people were killed and at least 20 injured in widespread violence during the second round of the four-phased panchayat election in Uttar Pradesh Thursday, police said.

According to Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal, a 35-year-old woman was shot dead in Firozabad district and a 50-year old man in Muzaffarnagar. “Both were caught in the cross-fire between supporters of rival candidates,” he said.

As many as 21 incidents of major violence were reported from Shahjahanpur, Etawah, Allahabad, Ballia, Baghpat, Basti, Kannauj, Mirzapur, Meerut, Firozabad, Bhadohi, Sitapur, Shahuji Nagar (Amethi), Varanasi, Chandauli, Fatehgarh, Jaunpur, Auraiya, Aligarh and Ghazipur.

Vandals indulged in free-for-all in several places and went to the extent of running away with ballot boxes or managing to pour water into ballot boxes at certain places.

“In Jaunpur, a mob set ablaze the official vehicle of the sector magistrate,” Lal said.

“However, the most brazen was the case of a police sub inspector, who not only went to his brother’s constituency in Jai Prakash Nagar, but crossed all limits by opening fire with his official weapon to scare away his brother’s rivals,” he said, adding the official’s suspension orders have been issued.

“We will also institute a criminal case against him”, he added.