Violence and Booth-Capturing

Allegations Reported in Several Districts

Case Registered in Ludhiana

Final Poll Percentage Yet to Be

Released by Election Commission

Chandigarh, 26 May (H.S.): Amid sporadic incidents of violence, Punjab recorded around

61.5 percent voter turnout on Tuesday in the Municipal Corporation, Municipal

Council, and Nagar Panchayat elections.

Reports of clashes, assaults,

stone-pelting, and allegations of booth-capturing surfaced from several

districts across the state. The final voter turnout figure will be released

after reports are compiled by the returning officers. Voting was conducted

through ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Counting of

votes will take place on May 29.

Clashes between workers of the

ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) were

reported from several places in Punjab.

The civic body elections are being

viewed as a political semi-final ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections

scheduled next year. This led to heightened tensions among supporters of

Congress, AAP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Shiromani Akali Dal in many

constituencies.

The biggest controversy was reported

from Samana in Patiala district. In Ward Number 19, an argument between

supporters of two rival political parties escalated into a violent clash.

Protesters and police reportedly indulged in heavy stone-pelting. As the

situation worsened, police resorted to baton charge to disperse the crowd.

Polling was temporarily suspended in the area due to chaos. Reports of aerial

firing also emerged, while one youngster was reportedly injured after suffering

an electric shock during the disturbance.

In Raikot of Ludhiana district,

Congress candidate from Ward Number 4, Jagdev Singh Jagga, was allegedly

attacked with sharp-edged weapons. Congress alleged that supporters of AAP MLA

Hakam Singh Thekedar carried out the attack. Jagga, who suffered serious

injuries, was first admitted to a local hospital and later referred to DMC

Hospital in Ludhiana after his condition deteriorated.

In Barnala, the husband of BJP

candidate Deepinder Kaur from Ward Number 15 was allegedly assaulted after he

raised allegations of bogus voting. During the altercation, his turban was

reportedly removed and he sustained injuries. He was later admitted to a

hospital.

In Gidderbaha of Muktsar district,

clashes broke out between supporters of Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party

during polling in Ward Numbers 18 and 19. Following the incident, SAD submitted

a complaint to the Punjab State Election Commission accusing AAP MLA Hardeep

Singh Dimpy Dhillon and others of booth-capturing, intimidation, and assault.

The party demanded registration of an FIR against the accused.

In Majitha of Amritsar district,

where senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia had a heated argument with

Amritsar Rural SSP Suhail Qasim Mir. Majithia alleged that AAP supporters

forcibly removed the turban of a Sikh youth and assaulted him in the presence

of police personnel. He further alleged that law and order in Majitha had

collapsed and that the administration was functioning under political pressure.

In Ludhiana, a social media

influencer was reportedly attacked after an argument with AAP MLA Sarbjit Kaur

Manuke. Similar incidents of clashes and tension were also reported from

Khanna, Sangrur, and Bathinda. Reports of aerial firing also came from

Bathinda.

In Sangrur, police detained former

OSD to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Onkar Singh Brar, who had recently left

AAP and joined the BJP. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu

was stopped by police in Dhuri when he was on his way to meet an allegedly

assaulted candidate.

In Abohar, police detained four

youths travelling in a Haryana-registered vehicle carrying an NSUI nameplate.

In Faridkot, AAP MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon alleged that BJP workers were using an

Army school bus to transport voters to polling booths, triggering protests at

the spot.

Meanwhile, Punjab State Election

Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary said FIRs had been registered in connection

with the Ludhiana incident. He confirmed that polling was conducted through

ballot papers and added that a detailed report would be released after complete

information is received from all constituencies.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH