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4 killed in U.P. Panchayat polls

80 per cent turnout recorded in the third phase; re-polling held in 81 booths

PHOTO: PTI

POLICE ACTION: A villager gets a thrashing from a policeman at the Bhashani polling station in Muzaffarnagar district during the third phase of Panchayat elections in Utter Pradesh on Tuesday.

LUCKNOW: An estimated 80 per cent of the 25- million electorates exercised their franchise in the third phase of Uttar Pradesh Panchayat polls with reports of four deaths and 30 wounded in poll-related violence.

One death each were reported from Ferozabad, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur and Pilibhit, while about 30 persons were injured in group clashes at Auriyya, Fatehpur, Etawah, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Sant Kabirnagar, Allahabad and Badaun.

Dharampal, brother of a pradhan candidate, was shot dead at Jasauli village under Bisauli block in Pilibhit district, while one person was killed and three wounded in a clash at Latipur village in Fatehpur.

Father-in-law of a woman candidate was shot dead in Baljatpur village under Nawabganj block of Farrukhabad and one person was killed by miscreants at Nargapur village in Ferozabad.

State Election Commissioner Aparmita Prasad Singh said about 80 per cent polling was recorded in the third phase and reports of three deaths had been confirmed so far in poll- related violence.

The polling, which started on a dull note due to heavy rains at many places in east UP, however picked up later in the day.

Repolling in 81 booths, where polling were held in the first and second phases, also took place on Tuesday.

During the last two phases on August 17 and 20, over 25 per cent polling was witnessed since the start of polling with the poll average hovering between 80 and 90 per cent.

Despite tight security arrangements during the first two phases, at least four persons were killed and over 50 injured in poll related violence.

State Principal Secretary (Home) Alok Sinha said except for stray incidents the polling was by and large peaceful.

Fate of 2.61 lakh candidates for the post of pradhans and gram panchayat members had been sealed in this phase of polling. An estimated 25 million voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in 39,473 polling booths spread over 208 development blocks of 70 districts.

Already 140 candidates had been elected unopposed for the post of gram pradhans in the first phase, followed by 117 in the second and 147 in the third phase so far. The fourth and the last phase of polling would be held on August 25. Counting of votes for all four phases would be taken up on August 28. UNI

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