The Hindu : Front Page : U.P.: 45 p.c. turnout in sixth phase

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Friday, May 04, 2007
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U.P.: 45 p.c. turnout in sixth phase

Atiq Khan

Three persons, including a presiding officer, arrested in Ghazipur district

— Photo: Akhilesh Kumar

GOOD TURNOUT: A Border Security Force man keeps vigil while voters await their turn at a polling booth near Varanasi on Thursday.

LUCKNOW: Around 45 per cent polling was recorded in the sixth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on Thursday.

Elections in 52 constituencies in nine districts were peaceful.

In the 2002 elections, 51.8 per cent polling was recorded in the 52 constituencies.

Three persons, including a presiding officer and a constable, were arrested on different counts in the Dildarnagar and Mohammadabad constituencies in Ghazipur district.

Chief Electoral Officer Anuj Kumar Bishnoi told reporters that presiding officer Gopalji Pandey was arrested for allowing a boy to cast his vote on the basis of ration card. The boy, identified as Rameshwar, was also arrested.

Constable held

The beat constable on booth number 53 in the Jafrauli polling centre in the Mohammadabad constituency was taken into custody after he was found carrying a country-made weapon, Mr. Bishnoi said.

Peaceful

The Chief Electoral Officer said polling in the naxalite-affected Mirzapur, Sonebhadra and Chandauli districts also passed off peacefully.

He said 450 polling stations and 355 polling centres in the three districts had been identified as sensitive.

Mr. Bishnoi denied that army commandos had been kept as standby in Varanasi for rescue operation in case of any eventuality in Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonebhadra districts.

He, however, added that an Army helicopter was kept as standby in Varanasi.

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