KADAPA: The police opened fire in the air to quell stone pelting by two rival groups at Saidapuram village in Thondur mandal during the final phase of polling for panchayat elections on Sunday. Faction Zone Circle Inspector Venkataramappa sustained injuries and the glass panes of his jeep were damaged in the incident.

A group of Congress members led by an unsuccessful sarpanch candidate Mahitha stormed the polling station in Chavvarupalle in Simhadripuram mandal, tore ballot papers and threw away a ballot box in the bushes, minutes before officials were set to declare Narayanamma, supported by Congress, elected as sarpanch.

Re-poll declared

Rival Congress and Telugu Desam Party members clashed and pelted stones at each other in Annavaram in Chapadu mandal, injuring three persons.

A group of persons tore ballot papers in polling station No. 5 in Gopavaram of Proddatur mandal forcing the declaration of a re-poll. TDP agents boycotted the polls in all 22 polling stations in Vempalle mandal alleging widespread rigging by Congressmen. Eight per cent polling was recorded in 147 panchayats that went to polls on Sunday.

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