8 arrested for poll-related violence in Shamli

Muzaffarnagar: Two incidents of violence related to panchayat polls have been reported in Shamli district, following which police have booked 23 people and arrested eight of them.

Police registered a case against several people including the husband of the Islampur gram pradhan and arrested eight of them in connection with a clash between the supporters of the village chief and her political rival, Circle Officer of police Nishank Sharma said today.

The clash occurred at Islampur village in Kandhla police station of Shamli district yesterday evening.

Those arrested have been identified as Ankit, Ajay, Tarun, Manoj, Shivlal, Devichand, Navnit and Sumit. Two pistols and cartridges were seized from their possession, the police officer said.

In a separate incident, former pradhan of Kurmali village Surajmal was shot at allegedly by the husband of the incumbent and his aides yesterday.

Police said Surajmal's son has filed an FIR against the gram pradhan's husband Pradeep and his aides Harender, Narender and Jagbir.