Chandigarh, December 31: The Punjab Police have registered 20 FIRs and booked more than 300 persons for violence or breaking law during the panchayat elections on Sunday.
Reports from various parts of the state reveal that the police lodged FIRs regarding road blockades, attack on poll staff and police, besides clashing with rivals.
The number of criminal cases is likely to swell as the election commission is yet to receive details of FIRs lodged all over the state. Reports from Bathinda, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Amritsar were received.
Ferozepur reported maximum number of persons booked in various cases. More than 170 persons were booked in five cases related to poll violence. Bathinda reported registration of a case against 80 persons for attacking police personnel.
In Sangrur, the police have registered a case against 125 residents of Fatehgarh Chhana for attacking poll staff and police last night in their village.
Fatehgarh Chhana presiding officer Harvinderjit Singh alleged that when they were loading ballot boxes in a bus, Buta Singh, who lost the election, came along with 125 persons and threatened them that they would not allow the polling party and cops to leave their village.
When the polling staff resisted, some persons attacked them. Head Constable Kehar Singh suffered an injury in his head, while other polling staff saved their lives by running towards the village.
“They attacked us and snatching ballot boxes,” alleged Harvinderjit.
Sangrur Sadar police station SHO Rakesh Kumar alleged that trouble started during counting of votes, but polling staff pacified both sides. However, Buta Singh instigated the villagers and they attacked the polling party.
“When we reached the village, they even attacked us with stones. We have registered a case against 125 persons, including Buta Singh,” the SHO added.
Source Tribune India
