Amid sporadic violence, 62% voting in Faridkot

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, September 19

Amid sporadic violence and booth capturing incidents during the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections on Monday, about 62 per cent voting was registered in Faridkot.

In a scuffle between supporters of Akali Dal and Congress candidates at Machaki Mal Singh village this evening, three persons were seriously injured.

Having sustained head and multiple injuries, these persons were admitted to the emergency wing of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital.

The injured have been identified as Sukhpal Singh, Malkit Singh and Raj Singh of the same village.

After the polling time ended at 4pm, about 200 persons tried to gain entry into the polling booth to cast their votes at Machaki Mal Singh.

As these persons were accompanied by the supporters of a Zila Parishad candidate, the supporters of the other candidate opposed it.

In the scuffle, three persons sustained serious injuries and many other got minor injuries.

SAD leaders have alleged that the police were not deployed in many areas and the Congress took advantage of this by capturing many booths.

Deputy Commissioner-cum- District Election Officer, Rajeev Prashar, said, “We have received reports of sporadic violence and scuffles at some places, especially Machaki Mal Singh, but largely, the elections were peaceful.”

Besides Machaki Mal Singh, the Akalis alleged booth capturing at many other places. There were incidents of scuffle between the Akali and Congress supporters at Panjgrain Kalan and Simarewala Mehmuana villages, and Bhan Singh Colony in Faridkot.

“We will lodge a complaint with the State Election Commission,” said Parambans Romana, an Akali leader in Faridkot.

In all, 413 polling booths were set up at 234 villages and 2,065 employees were deputed to conduct the elections. 

In Faridkot, the voters were to elect 10 members of Zila Parishad and 62 members of Panchayat Samiti. Two Block Samiti candidates have been elected unopposed.

The polling percentage in three blocks of Faridkot district was 62 per cent in Faridkot, 61.70 per cent in Kotkapura and 62.36 per cent in Jaito. Total 172 candidates were in the fray.