HYDERABAD, February 16: Bomb blasts, firing, group clashes, tearing of ballot papers and snatching of ballot boxes marked the first phase of elections to 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Andhra Pradesh. The average poll percentage was around 60.A Congress polling agent, E Ramakrishna Reddy, of Kondapur village in Udayagiri Assembly segment of Ongole Lok Sabha constituency, was stabbed to death by rivals while he was guarding a polling booth.Polling was on the higher side in most of the constituencies with more than 50 per cent of the voters exercising their franchise by 3 p.m. itself. Allegations of rigging were made both by the ruling Telugu Desam Party and the Congress.At least 10 persons were injured when faction leader Vishnuvardhan Reddy, who is supporting the Telugu Desam, opened fire at the voters at Kallapari polling station near Kurnool. However, the TDP leader said that his gunman opened fire when voters at the polling booth threatened him.Telugu Desam Party legislator Paleti Rama Raowas taken into custody at Chirala for allegedly trying to rig the polls. Many people were injured at Elurivaripalem in Podili mandal of Darshi Assembly segment when the workers of the Telugu Desam and Congress clashed. The polling staff fled the village with ballot boxes fearing a threat to their lives. The officials proposed a repolling in the village.The polling was disrupted for some time in four villages in Donakonda mandal in Prakasam district when some miscreants poured water, ink and tea into the ballot boxes. Unidentified miscreants hurled bombs at two polling booths in Rompicherla of Narsaraopet constituency to scare away voters. However, none was injured in the incident. Miscreants also poured ink in ballot boxes at Muthukur where polling was delayed.Stray incidents of violence were reported from Cuddapah Lok Sabha constituency. At Chintakunta village, Congress and TDP workers hurled bombs at each other, but none was injured. At Koppolu, 900 ballot papers were torn by some miscreants whileone person sustained minor injuries when two groups belonging to TDP and Congress hurled bombs at each other in the faction-ridden Jamalamadugga village.Villagers of Diguvamaredpally in Chittoor constituency and Babasahebpally of Hindupur constituency boycotted the elections in protest against erratic power supply and delay in completion of irrigation projects.Ongole constituency recorded the highest number of violent incidents. A Congress agent was murdered following a clash between him and TDP agent Subba Reddy. The TDP candidate, K Rajamohan Reddy, was taken into custody and later released. In retaliation, about 20 houses of TDP sympathisers were set ablaze allegedly by Congressmen. Tension built up in the area and people remained indoors fearing further escalation in violence.
