BERHAMPUR: Proving themselves to be real supporters of democracy villagers of Jodipadar of Kashipur block in Rayagada district waited till 5 pm to vote in the panchayat elections on Thursday although the official time of voting ended at noon.

Due to protest by some supporters of a candidate polling process was stalled at this booth for more than two and a half hours. They did not allow the voters to vote alleging that the presiding officer at the booth was showing partisan attitude by folding the ballot papers in a way which would not enable voters to see the name and symbol of a particular sarpanch candidate.

According to Sub-Collector of Rayagada, Sarat Padhi, the administration received information about this incident at around 1.30 pm and a team of officials led by the Sub-Collector rushed to the Jodipadar booth. "When we reached the booth at around 2.30 pm we found that more than 200 voters were waiting to vote and they had not left the spot even after the time of voting was over," Mr Padhi said. After pacifying the protestors the Sub-Collector made arrangements to identify all the voters who were inside the booth limits.

More than 200 voters could be identified and the voting process continued at this booth till 5 pm in the presence of police and officials. Apart from it the second phase polling process in Rayagada district was almost peaceful.

Group clash

In naxal-infested Gajapati district polling process was peaceful despite call of poll boycott by naxals through pamphlets and posters.

Polling was held at three zilla parishad zones of R.Udaygiri, Rayagada and Mohana. There were 77 hypersensitive booths in the naxal-infested R. Udaygiri zone. Heavy patrolling and combing operations by CRPF and OSAP troupes continued during the polling process.

In Ganjam district 18 zilla parishad zones in five blocks went to polls in the second phase amid tight security arrangements without any major case of violence.

There was a group clash at Saramuli village under Darigbadi block of Kandhamal district but it did not hamper polling. Around 75 per cent of the voters in four zilla parishad zones of Tikabali area of Kandhamal district voted in the second phase on Thursday.

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