In the second phase of village panchyat elections close to 73 percent voters turn out was recorded. One person was killed and one woman was seriously injured in Gonda district, incidents of group clashes, arson and firing were reported in the second phase of the elections of village pradhan in the state on Tuesday. Sporadic incidents of booth capturing pouring of water in the ballot boxes a so occurred in several districts where the State Election commission has ordered the repoll. In first phase of village panchyat polls on November 28 voter’s turnout was 74 percent. The State Election Commissioner SK Agarwal said here that in village panchyat Ferozpur under police station Kotwali Dehat in Gonda district Sonu Shukla, a candi8date for village pradhan allegedly fired on rival candidate Sajjad, who died on the spot while his daughter Shahjahan was critically injured in the incident. The SEC said “it’s an extremely unfortunate incident which occurred due to irresponsible behaviour and laxity in performing the duty by the po9lice and administration officials.”
He said the commission has ordered the immediate transfer of the SP, Gonda Anil Kumar Singh while SDM Narendra Singh, Circle officer Akhand Prtap Singh and Inspector Kotwali Dehat police station Fanindra Yadav have been placed under suspension. The Commission has ordered repoll in village panchyat Ferozpur. The dates of third and fourth phase of elections in Gonda district have also been changed. The third phase of poll will now be held on December 5 against the earlier announced date of December 5 and fourth phase of poll on December 9 instead of December 9. The Commission has ordered repoll in village panchyat barauli in Ghosi development block of Mau district. The anti social elements in their attempt to capture the booth damaged the ballot boxes. On the orders of the Commission FIRs have been lodged against 11 persons under 7 criminal law amendment Act and prevention of damage to public property act. In Ghazipur district commission has ordered repoll in 11 polling booths of village panchyat Raksa as water was poured in the ballot boxes. Raksa is a big village with population of over 16,ooo. The district administration has lodged named FIR against 11 person and 150 unidentified persons. The Commission has also ordered repoll in village panchyat Gaura in Mirzapur district as water was poured in the ballot boxes.
In Basti district police during checking of vehicles on the highway recovered liquor bottles, sarees, cash and mobile phones. The police seized the vehicle. In Komha village of Mahoba district under Srinagar police station a dalit couple was assaulted for not voting for a particular candidate. A case has been registered by the police under Prevention of atrocities against SC, ST act. In the second phase of panchyat polls for village prdhan polling was held 14,432 village panchyats in 202 development blocks spread in 74 districts. AS many as 1.16 lakh candidates which included 45 percent women in the fray for 14,432 seats of village prdha—thus an average of 8 candidate for each seat of village prdhan. The State Election commission had set up 19, 452 polling centers and 46,796 polling booths where 2.91 crore voters were expected to exercise their franchise.