Amid tight security, the third phase of polling for panchayat election was held in the State with reports of scuffles between supporters of rival candidates being reported from some places.
The local residents of Harrawala blocked the Dehradun-Haridwar highway protesting against alleged bogus voting at the polling booth in Government Girls High School, Harrawala. At Rani Pokhari, Doiwala, some residents protested because their names were missing from the voter list. With the deployment of police force, situation in these areas was brought under control, said Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Rautela. Rautela inspected around 60 polling booths and gave necessary instructions to the policemen.
According to him, adequate security ensured that polling went off peacefully barring few incidents of minor scuffle in the district. To prevent untoward incidents, two circle officers, seven inspectors, 163 sub-inspectors, 125 head constables, 1014 constables, 619 home guards, 220 PRD jawans and four PAC companies were deployed at polling booths in Raipur and Doiwala blocks on Tuesday.
Dehradun District Magistrate Chandresh Kumar Yadav claimed that with the deployment of adequate police force, the final phase of polling for three tier panchayat election held at Raipur and Doiwala went off peacefully. The polling at various polling booths began at 7 am and continued till 5 pm. The voters who reached the polling booth before 5 pm were allowed to exercise their vote. The Doiwala polling parties have been directed to deposit ballot boxes in the strong room at ITI Doiwala while the Raipur polling parties will deposit ballot boxes at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Raipur. The counting of votes for Panchayat election will be held on June 27, he added.