ANANTAPUR: Minor clashes were reported during the second phase of gram panchayat elections, polling for which was held in Dharmavaram revenue division of the district, on Wednesday. The polling percentage was put at 81.89 by the officials.

Police had to fire in the air to disperse clashing mobs led by Congress and TDP supporters at Paluru village in Kambadur mandal after declaration of the results. A TDP supporter won the election as sarpanch and arguments between the two groups ensued. They started attacking each other with lathis and later with stones. Several persons on both sides sustained injuries in the stone throwing.

Brisk polling

In all, 232 gram panchayats went to poll on Wednesday in 17 mandals of Dharmavaram division. Polling in the villages began on a brisk note as more than 50 per cent of voters cast their votes within the initial two-and-a-half hours itself in several villages.

At Mamillapalli in Kanaganapalli mandal, 49 per cent polling was recorded by 8.30 a.m. and it was about 50 per cent at Pothukunta in Dharmavaram Rural mandal by 9 a.m. More than 55 per cent polling was recorded in Regatipalli of Dharmavaram rural mandal and Pyadindi, Chennekothapalli, Nagasamudram and Nyamaddela villages of Chennekothapalli mandal by 10 a.m.

The Rayalaseema Zone IGP N. Sambasiva Rao and Anantapur Range DIG N. Jayarami Reddy visited several villages in Dharmavaram Rural, Bathalapalli, Tadimarri and Chennekothapalli mandals to inspect the polling process.

Police intervened in time to prevent a group clash between Congress and TDP supporters at Konapuram village in Kanaganapalli mandal over an alleged impersonation attempt by a person and enabled continuation of polling without any break.

About 17 persons were injured seriously at Rampuram in Kambaduru mandal following a group clash between Congress and TDP supporters. In C.Gollolladoddi of Rayadurg mandal, two candidates for sarpanch post pelted stones at one another. A group clash was also reported from Kenchanapalli in the same mandal.

Congress supporters allegedly snatched away three ballot boxes after counting of votes at Kanganapalli, where a TDP supporter Jayalaxmi was declared elected as sarpanch. Her declaration form was also allegedly snatched away by a Congress supporter.

A few ballot papers were allegedly burnt by Congress supporters at Sangala in Bathalapalli mandal after counting of votes. A Congress supporter was declared winner with five votes in first counting but the result went in favour of TDP supporter in the recounting. Polling was delayed by an hour at Gonabavi in Gummaghatta mandal as villagers who migrated for livelihood entered into an argument with the polling officials over the removal of their names from the voter list.

Two persons were arrested and four crude bombs seized from them in Pyadindi village of Chennekothapalli mandal on Tuesday night as part of police frisking in problematic villages.

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