The Hindu : Other States / Punjab News : Panic spreads as cop's pistol goes off

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 11, 2004

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Other States - Punjab

Panic spreads as cop's pistol goes off

JALANDHAR, MAY 10. A wave of panic spread for a short while at a polling station near the Model Town here this afternoon as the pistol of a careless police personnel went off by accident.

According to reports, an assistant sub-inspector deployed outside the polling booth was fiddling with his pistol and it suddenly went off. Nobody was hurt in the incident as the bullet hit the ceiling.

In another minor incident, two groups indulged in brick-batting near a polling station in Arya Samaj School in Basti Gujjan of Jalandhar town. Officials and passers-by intervened and defused the situation.

A 97-year-old woman, Gurbachan Kaur, exercised her franchise at the polling both near the Model Town Gurdwara here. The aged woman was brought to the polling booth in a wheel chair by her servant.

Women outnumber men

Despite several blasts and incidents of firing by militants in the run up to the elections in the hilly district of Doda, voters especially those belonging to the fairer sex participated enthusiastically in the electoral process.

In Doda town where special polling stations had been set up for women, a large number of them turned out to exercise their franchise and told reporters that they are voting to ensure peace in the state and development in their district.

However, a large number of voters boycotted polls at Shreekhi polling station in Bhaderwah town of Doda district.

A number of aged people enthusiastically cast their ballot in the Lok Sabha constituency. Reports from Udhampur district said a 95-year blind man Faqir Chand was assisted by polling staff in exercising his franchise at a polling station in Reasi town. 107-year old Sant Ram of village Tote-Sare in Reasi tehsil of Udhampur district was one of the oldest persons of the area who exercised his right of franchise today. His grandson escorted him to the polling station. Similarly, a 105-year voter, Abdul, assisted by his relatives cast his vote at Trangi polling station in Kishtwar town of Doda district.

Another Abdul Khalid, 125-year old, cast his vote at polling station in Banihal. He was escorted to the polling station by his grandchildren to enable him to exercise his right of franchise. Reports from Ladakh constituency said that one 90-year old, Sonam Morup, cast his vote at Khaltsi polling station in Leh assembly segment.

Villagers boycott poll

Voters of Vedpura, the native village of late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot, in Khurja reserved Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh today boycotted the election to protest against the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, official sources said.

The villagers said the government is apathetic towards their problems and they have decided to boycott the polls as a mark of protest against the NDA government, the sources said.

In another incident, two BSP workers were injured when the party workers were allegedly beaten up by some BJP workers in Lulharli village under Dadri police station, and the election was halted for an hour due to the incident, presiding officer Hemant Kumar said.

UNI & PTI

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Panic spreads as cop's pistol goes off