Firing in Ajnala, minor scuffles mark polling across district

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 19

A firing incident in Ajnala and a couple of scuffles, including a booth capturing bid, marked the polling for Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections in the district.

In Ballarwal village, Ajnala, a man sustained a bullet injury. SAD supporters alleged that they were fired at by Congressmen when they were returning after casting votes in the village. The injured has been identified as Mukhtar Singh, who has been admitted to the Ajnala Civil Hospital. Amritsar (Rural) SSP Parampal Singh said a case under Sections 307, 323, 324 , 148, 149 of the IPC and 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act had been registered.

In Gaggomahal village, a group of men allegedly stole ballot papers and forcibly tried to cast votes in their favour. Sections 379, 186, 506 of the IPC and 122 of the Punjab State Election Commission Act have been slapped. The polling at that booth (42) has been postponed till further orders.

A minor altercation between the Congress and SAD workers in Nave Naag village, which falls under the Majitha constituency, took an ugly turn when a SAD supporter, Rashpal Singh, suffered a head injury. Rashpal, who was hit on his head with a brick, was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. Both the groups hurled stones and bricks during the clash. Rashpal alleged that Shamsher Singh of the same village had a brawl with him over the placement of booth. “Though I shifted the booth near my house, he, along with his supporters, was adamant to dismantle the booth,” he said.

A scuffle was also reported in Lodhi Gujjar village at Booth No. 97 in Rajasansi. The situation was brought under control after the police intervention. SAD supporters accused the Congress of polling fake votes. The clash took place inside the booth. A video of the same has gone viral. The police swung into action and brought the situation under control.

SAD leader Veer Singh Lopoke alleged that the Congress knew that the SAD would win the polls, therefore, they were using every tactic, including having clash with SAD workers and supporters. “They tried everything to keep the SAD at bay from contesting the polls. The Congress workers misused the government machinery to browbeat them,” he said.

SSP Parampal Singh said there were minor skirmishes and no major clash was reported. He said adequate security arrangements were in place to thwart any untoward incident. The polling remained peaceful in the rural belt, he added.

In Tarn Taran too

Tarn Taran: Several clashes, though minor, were reported during the polling in Tarn Taran district on Wednesday. With the conclusion of the polling, the administration has heaved a sigh of relief. Clashes between the SAD and Congress workers were reported at Aladinpur, Jhender, Jeobala and several other villages. Meanwhile, the SAD boycotted elections in Tarn Taran and  Khemkaran areas,  alleging irregularities.

Former SAD MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura said party workers Ankhanpreet Singh of Dugalwala, Chamkaur Singh, Sital Singh, Jaspal Singh and Sardool Singh of Aladinpur among others were injured in clashes. They have been admitted to different hospitals.

Brahmpura said Congress workers tried to capture a booth to which SAD men resisted. 

Virsa Singh Valtoha, former SAD MLA from Khemkaran, said the Akali Dal had boycotted the voting in the area. The polling percentage in the border district was about 51%. The figure till 2 pm was 34%. There was voting in half of the district as the ruling Congress has managed to get unopposed nine out of the 20 Zila Parishad zones and 85 zones out of 160 of Block Samitis out of the total 160. As many as 40 candidates were in the fray for the Zila Parishad and 273 candidates for the Block Samiti zones. OC