Though a re-polling was conducted smoothly at 15 booths of Pokharigaon gram panchayat under Niali block in Cuttack district peacefully on Monday, tension prevailed later during counting of votes at the Niali block office as some people resorted to road blockade and damaged vehicles.
Voting in these booths had earlier been cancelled during the panchayat elections due to violence twice. Voting was conducted at booth nos. 1 to 9 and 12, 14, 17, 18, 20 and 21 amid tight security. Besides, the entire voting process was videographed.
However, when the counting began, some people started sloganeering and held road blockade damaging vehicles passing the thoroughfare in front of the block office. Police managed to control the situation by resorting to lathicharge.
As many as four DSPs, 10 Inspectors, 10 Sub-Inspectors and 10 ASIs had earlier been deployed at the polling booths.
Notably, polls had been cancelled at six booths of the panchayat on February 21 due to violence. Alleging booth rigging at several polling centres, some people allegedly looted ballot boxes from few booths.
Following the incident, the State Election Commission (SEC) had ordered for re-polling at six booths of the panchayat on February 22 which was again marred by violence.
Eventually, the commission decided for re-polling at 15 booths of the panchayat out of the total 23.