Punjab Civic body elections: 61.5% voter turnout, political workers clash at several places

Scattered violence and political clashes overshadow polling during Punjab's crucial civic body elections

Ekamejit Singh Brar

Chandigarh, May 26

Clashes involving support-ers of Congress, AAP, BJP and SAD and allegations of booth-capturing were reported at several places in Punjab during the civic elections that saw 61.5 per cent polling on Tuesday. The final percentage of voter turnout may change after data is compiled by returning officers. The local body elections are being seen as crucial for all major political par-ties of the state as these are taking place ahead of the assembly polls next year. Congress candidate from Ward number 4 in Raikot, Jagdev Singh Jagga was injured in an attack with sharp-edged weapons by a group of people. He was admitted to a private hospi-tal in Ludhiana, officials said. In Barnala, the hus-band of BJP candidate from Ward number 15, Deepinder Kaur, was assaulted by a group of people following heated exchanges after he made allegations of bogus voting. His turban was removed and he suffered injuries after which he was taken to a hospital. A clash erupted between the supporters of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gidderbaha in Muktsar dis-trict during polling in Ward numbers 18 and 19, officials said. The SAD later lodged a complaint with the Punjab State Election Commission against AAP MLA Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon and others, accus-ing them of indulging in booth-capturing, assault and intimidation during municipal elections and demanded an FIR be regis-tered against them. Tension prevailed in Samana in Patiala supporters of two rival political parties clashed and later pelted cops with stones during polling in Ward number 19. The police resorted to cane charging to disperse the crowd and polling was tem-porarily stalled, the offi-cials said. In Amritsar’s Majitha, supporters of SAD and AAP clashed, prompt-ing police to intervene in the matter, they said.

Stone-pelting, violence reported across multiple areas

Tension was witnessed in Samana’s Ward No. 19 as polling moved towards the final hours. Stone-pelting was reported during a clash where several SAD and Congress workers were beat-en during the confrontation involving supporters of the ruling party. Opposition can-didates also raised slogans against the AAP and the police administration. SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia accused the ruling party of violence and voter intimida-tion during the Amritsar municipal corporation polls. A party worker suffered a serious head injury after being attacked with a sharp weapon, while a voter claimed he was slapped by the husband of an AAP can-didate from Ward No. 9. Majithia sought action from senior police officials. A tense situation developed at a sensitive polling booth in Nawanshahr’s Ward No. 13 after Independent candi-dates Paramjit Singh Bakhshi and Makhan Singh Grewal got into an argument over claims of influencing voters. Their supporters also gath-ered at the spot before police intervened and sepa-rated both sides.

Row over missing votes in Khanna

Former Cabinet Minister Gurkirat Singh Kotli protest-ed outside a polling station in Khanna’s Ward No. 5 over deleted votes and the move-ment of AAP volunteers inside polling booths. Congress candidate Neeru Rani’s vote was initially missing and was later found at another booth. Similar objections were also raised in Ward No. 15 before offi-cials resolved the issue.

BJP candidate’s husband injured in Barnala clash

Violence also broke out in Barnala’s Ward No. 15 after a dispute over fake voting claims. BJP candidate Deepinder Kaur’s husband, Jasbir Singh, was attacked during the clash, where his turban was removed, and he suffered head injuries after being hit with a weapon.