Sukhbir booked for ‘thrashing’ Cong man

Chandigarh, September 19

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and some Akali workers were booked today for allegedly thrashing a Congress worker at Killianwali village in Muktsar as sporadic violence was witnessed in five districts of Punjab during the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections.

The Akali Dal, meanwhile, accused the Congress of resorting to “booth capturing, bogus voting and using muscle power”, charges denied by the ruling party.

 The 56 per cent polling recorded was around 10 per cent less than that in 2013. Mansa topped in polling percentage (71), while Gurdaspur witnessed the least polling percentage of 47.

The state Election Commission has received recommendations for re-polling in at least 43 booths, majority of them in Muktsar district. The re-poll will be held on September 21. Counting will take place on September 22.

Incidents of alleged booth capturing were reported from Muktsar, Bathinda, Moga, Patiala and Ferozepur districts. There were reports of ballot papers being torn and polling closing before the scheduled time of 4 pm. The polling staff were manhandled, mob brandished swords, iron rods and batons at certain places. The polling in Doaba and Majha regions was largely peaceful. — TNS