[Watch] Odisha cops attacked during 3rd phase of Panchayat polls

Jajpur/Kendrapara: Violence erupted in third phase of Panchayat polls in Jajpur and Kendrapara districts where on-duty police personnel were allegedly attacked during voting.

According to reports, two police personnel were injured after two groups pelted stones at each other during the polls at booth number 14 at Jari Panchayat under Bijharpur Block in Jajpur district on Sunday.

Source said that clash between two groups started over allegation of booth rigging. The two police personnel who were present at the booth sustained injuries after the miscreants pelted stones.

On the other hand, police personnel were allegedly attacked with a plastic pipe while they were trying to restore normalcy at a polling station in Kendrapara district.

Reports said that tension occurred at booth number 3 at Dera Panchayat under Rajanagar Block in Kendrapara district over missing of a polling agent’s name in the voters list. Few voters expressed outrage over such irregularity disrupting the voting.

On receiving information, the police personnel present at the polling station tried to pacify the voters. During the period, some irate voters attacked the police personnel with a pipe for their intervention. The voting was halted for around half an hour.

[Watch]

Earlier in the day, incidents of violence were reported from several areas in Jajpur district.

According to reports, three journalists of an electronic media were attacked by miscreants while they were covering ballot box loot incident at Bachola Panchayat under Binjharpur Block in Jajpur district. The mob ransacked their vehicles too.

Source said that four miscreants looted ballot boxes from Booth No. 4 and 6 in Bachola Panchayat and threw those in a pond today.

In another incident, BDO of Korei Block in Jajpur district was allegedly assaulted near a polling booth at Soti village under Goleipur panchayat. The official had gone to the place after receiving information regarding irregularities in the polling process.

Also Read: BDO, journalists attacked during panchayat polls in Odisha’s Jajpur