Polling goes peaceful barring minor brawls

Pawan Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 19

The general elections in the holy city remained by and large peaceful barring minor skirmishes.

Turbans were reportedly tossed outside polling booth number 152 in ward number 43 in the Amritsar East constituency after a verbal duel between the workers of the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) over clicking a selfie and taking mobile inside the polling station.

Lakhwinder Singh of the SAD alleged that he went to the booth for casting his vote where Congress worker Nirmal Singh Nimma was seen clicking pictures. He said a polling agent objected to this and a verbal dual followed. Soon, the scene turned ugly when they almost came to blows. He said he along with Harjit Singh tried to intervene and the Congress leader also scuffled with them and later went away while issuing threats.

Immediately, police officials reached the spot. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Gurnam Singh said it was a minor skirmish which was later sorted out while the polling went on.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Rana Lopoke, son of former SAD MLA Vir Singh Lopoke, accused Congress leaders of capturing a booth at Jajje village in Rajasansi. He alleged that Congress supporters captured booth number 195 at around 3.30 pm. He alleged that the polling staff and security personnel remained mute spectator. He said the incident occurred at the behest of Congress MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria.

Sarkaria refuted the allegations and said that after casting his vote, he returned to Amritsar. He said the SAD-BJP was staring at defeat and therefore levelling such allegations.

Amritsar (Rural) SSP Vikram Jeet Duggal said no such incident had occurred. He said immediately after the compliant, the police verified the allegations which were found untrue.