Following widespread post-poll violence in Mahanga block of Cuttack district during the first phase of the panchayat elections on Monday, the district administration is taking adequate measures to ensure peaceful polling during the second phase of polling scheduled on Wednesday.
While the first-phase elections were held in Mahanga, Narasinghpur and Cuttack Sadar blocks on Monday, polling in Nischintkoli, Badamba and Baranga blocks of the district are scheduled for Wednesday.
Snatching of ballot boxes and throwing them into river waters were reported in Mahanga on Monday, necessitating the State Election Commission ordering re-polling in at least 15 booths of the block.
The SEC has instructed the district Collector and SP to ensure that the ballot boxes are not shifted from
booths to counting centres without adequate police escort parties.
“I have ordered to enhance the escort strength during shifting of the ballot boxes after the polling and the polling officers have been asked not to budge an inch carrying the ballot boxes without adequate security,” said Collector NC Mishra on Tuesday.