Violence mars Punjab rural polls,65 vote

Amid sporadic reports of violence,including firing,booth capturing bids and burning of vehicles,that left more than 30 injured,65 per cent of the nearly 1.1 crore rural voters exercised their franchise for panchayat samiti and zila parishad elections in Punjab Sunday.

After skirmishes between rival supporters took place in Mansa village in Muktsar and in certain pockets of Moga and Ferozepur districts,polling was countermanded at eight polling booths in Ferozepur,Faridkot,Moga and Muktsar. The re-polling will take place Monday.

State election commissioner S S Brar said there was no report of any major untoward incident from any polling booth. Fortunately,there was no incident of any major hurt or injury by firing, he said.

However,the police booked several Congress workers in Lambi after they allegedly set on fire six vehicles trying to stop Akali workers from capturing a polling booth. At least four persons were reported injured in the clashes.