Karnataka   

Violence mars polling in Tumkur district

TUMKUR: Violence and protests against polling irregularities at some booths marred polling in Tumkur district on Friday. Police resorted to lathi-charge in at least 3 places.

The turnout at the polling booths was lowest in recent times. Tumkur city registered only 50 per cent polling. The district average stood at 59 per cent. Thanks to security that was put in place in Pavagada Taluk, in view of threats from naxalites, more than 69 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise to elect 23 members for the Pavagada Town Municipal Council.

Members of a minority community took sides with Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) at two booths in Kunigal Town and clashed with each other. The warring groups pushed around a senior police official. The police lathi charged the group that sided with Congress.

A man stabbed the sister of a candidate at a booth in Tiptur and that led to lightning strike. The victim was, however, injured only in her right hand. At a stage, people demanded the officials to suspend polling for the rest of the day.

In Koratagere, activists of the Congress the Janata Dal (Secular) clashed with each other at the main Bus Stand circle.

Chamavval, a 101-year-old woman, cast her vote at Aryan High School booth in Agrahara in Tumkur. She walked into the booth and exercised her franchise.

Another centenarian in Ward 31 faced difficulty in casting his vote as he could not climb the stairs.

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