LS polls: Over 60 percent turnout in UP amid violent clashes, boycott

Lucknow: In the third phase of Lok Sabha election for 12 seats in Uttar Pradesh approximately 60.12 per cent voters exercised their franchise amidst incidents of violent clashes and boycott.

State Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said that approximately 60.12 per cent voting was registered between 7 AM to 6 PM in the third phase. He said in 2009 Lok Sabha elections 46.63 per cent polling was recorded in the third phase. Sinha said that Hathras witnessed approximately 57.2 per cent polling, while Mathura and Agra recorded 63.8 and 59.8 per cent polling respectively. Fatehpur Sikri recorded 61.27 per cent polling, Firozabad 66 per cent, Mainpuri 60.8 per cent, Etah 59.8 per cent, Hardoi 56.9 per cent, Farukhabad 59.6 per cent, Etawah 56.3 per cent, Kannauj and Akbarpur had 63.48 and 56.54 per cent respectively. Sinha said that in Firozabad two polling booths in Jasrana area and in Auraiya some persons entered forcibly and attempted bogus voting. He said that reports have been sought from those districts if necessary repoll should be held. According to reports from Mathura, at a polling booth in Daulatpur village in Baldev area RLD and BJP supporters got into a scuffle. On being pacified by the security personnel, they moved toward Daulatpur village where they indulged in brick batting and firing in which seven persons were injured. Report said that 12 persons have been arrested in this connection. According to report from Mainpuri attempting bogus voting a village head Sheelu Yadav on being prevented allegedly threw a stone at CRPF jawan in Garia Ghutara polling booth of Bewar block and opened fire, though no one was injured in the incident. District Magistrate Govindraju and SP Shrikant reached the spot and controlled the situation after which polling, which was disrupted for sometime resumed. According to report from SSP Etah Amit Pathak some persons forcibly entered Bishanpur polling center at Jalesar in an inebriated condition. When polling staff resisted they indulged into brick batting in which a homeguard jawan Chandrapal was injured. The trouble makers ran away with the camera of one Vivek video-graphing the poll process. Meanwhile, in Farukkhabad in-charge of Merapur police station Ram Sajeevan Yadav has been suspended with immediate effect on allegation of partiality during the polling. A complaint was received from former minister Narendra Singh Yadav, father of rebel Samajwadi Party candidate Sachin Yadav and the electoral observer report was sought, SP Alankrita Singh said. She said that after receiving the report from the observer, Ram Sajeevan was suspended with immediate effect.