PUNJAB POLL 2022: After complaints, four migrant labourers held at Lohgarh booth

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Zirakpur, February 20

The police arrested four migrant labourers for trying to cast ballot on someone else’s voter cards at a booth in Lohgarh here today. The police said they were nabbed before casting the ballots.

AAP and Congress workers complained that four persons were holding someone else’s voter cards and trying to cast ballot. The situation became tense, following which the police reached the spot.

Polling largely went off peacefully in the Dera Bassi Assembly seat where 1,77,540 persons exercised their franchise (61.7%) out of a total of 2,87,622 voters.

However, minor altercations were witnessed between Congress and SAD-BSP workers. However, the police managed to control the situation.

A dispute broke out between SAD and Congress workers early in the morning at Chhat village over the allegations of influencing voters.

Several arguments and counterarguments broke out between Congress and SAD workers at Baltana. However, no untoward incident was reported. An incumbent Congress councillor from Baltana alleged that her vote had been cut and it was a handiwork of the SAD. Congress and SAD workers had a dispute over deployment of polling agents in Baltana.

Complaints of EVM malfunctions were reported from some places, but these were resolved in time.

Returning Officer-cum-SDM Swati Tiwana said the elections were held peacefully. There were minor clashes in some places, but the situation remained under control.

In Dera Bassi, some families said votes of members of the same family were found to be in different booths.

Akali Dal and BSP joint candidate NK Sharma was the first to cast his ballot with his family at a booth in Lohgarh. Congress candidate Deepinder Singh Dhillon, his son Udayvir Singh Dhillon, president of the Zirakpur Municipal Council, along with his family exercised their voting right at Chhat village. BJP candidate Sanjiv Khanna and his wife cast their vote in Dhakoli. AAP candidate Kuljit Singh Randhawa and his family exercised franchise at Bhankarpur village.