Search the Internet          Tips

Sixty per cent turnout in three states

Two Border Security Force personnel were killed in Manipur and two persons received gunshot wounds in Uttar Pradesh, as an estimated 60 per cent of voters cast ballots in the first phase of assembly polls in the two states on Thursday. Uttaranchal saw a one-day balloting for its maiden democratic exercise.

Two BSF jawans were killed and four injured in an exchange of fire between paratroopers and militants at Moirangpurel in Lamlai assembly constituency in Imphal East.

India Reserve Battalion personnel opened fire in the air to break a violent mob near a polling station at Salam Konjin in Bishenpur district, sources said in Imphal.

Miscreants forcibly took away ballot boxes from three polling stations in Thongju constituency and threw them into a river, the sources said.

Barring minor violence in Bareilly and Shahjahanpur districts, where two persons received gunshot wounds, balloting for 92 assembly seats in UP was peaceful.

Nearly 55 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in the first phase in 15 districts of western UP, state election commission sources said

Balloting for the maiden Uttaranchal assembly poll passed off peacefully with over 50 per cent voters casting ballots to choose their 70 representatives.

In UP, polling began on a dull note as winter chill kept people indoors, but picked up as the day advanced. Long queues of voters were seen in the afternoon.

A home department spokesman said in Lucknow that one person was injured when the gunner of a BJP candidate for Sunha seat in Bareilly opened fire.

Another person received gunshot wounds following a clash between rival political groups in Nigohi constituency of Shahjahanpur district.

Electoral fortunes of 1242 candidates, including former chief ministers Kalyan Singh and Mayawati, were sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines, which were used for the first time in assembly election in Uttar Pradesh.

In Uttaranchal, moderate polling was reported in plains and hilly areas with no reports of any untoward incident.

There were some complaints of missing names in voters' lists all over the state, official sources said.

A presiding officer was killed when he slipped off a snow-covered hilltop.

Thursday's polling will decide the fate of 927 candidates, including Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, who is seeking election from Kapkot constituency of Bageshwar district for the first time.

In Manipur, 40 constituencies went to the polls in the first phase, which will decide the fate of three former chief ministers -- Nipamacha Singh, Radhabinod Koijam and R K Dorendra Singh. Nearly 90 per cent of the voters exercised their franchisee on Thursday.

PTI

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report