One more dies in poll violence

Seven persons have died in the incidents of violence that have taken place after the second phase of the panchayat polls while five deaths were reported earlier during the first phase of the elections across Uttar Pradesh.

The Circle Officer (CO) of Nagina area, Arun Kumar,said the incident happened when family members of two rival pradhan candidates — Kamlesh Kumari and Saroj Devi— from Harnangla village panchayat clashed with each other.

The two groups engaged in brick-batting which later turned more violent as Saroj’s husband Suraj Singh and her sons — Satyendra,Jitendra and Yogendra — fired with country-made weapons at the rivals.

The CO said that Kamlesh’s relative Deep Kumar (45) and his son Anil and brother Sushil sustained bullet injuries.

The injured were rushed to the district hospital where Deep was declared dead Sunday night.

Saroj’s sons,who were also injured in the brick-batting,are stated to be stable,the CO said.

Bijnor Superintendent of Police (SP) Raj Kumar said the police have arrested Suraj,his brothers — Hukum Singh and Subhash — and two of his sons so far.