33 per cent polling in Haryana till noon

elections About 33 per cent voters in Haryana had exercised their franchise till 12.45 pm on Tuesday for the assembly elections in the state.

Barring incidents in Guhla assembly segment where a person, Jyoti Ram who was the polling agent of an Independent candidate died at Hemomajra village in Kaithal district and Meham assembly segment in Rohtak where supporters of Congress nominee Anand Singh Dangi and supporters of an Independent, Sunil alias Kallu entered into a scuffle at a polling booth, the polling by and large has been uneventful so far.

Officials said that supporters of Congress nominee from Guhla, Dillu Ram and supporters of an Independent candidate, Kulwant Baazigar entered into an argument at Hemomajra. “ The polling agent of Kulwant died following a heart attack though it is not known whether he was also involved in argument,’’ said an official.

Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) however alleged that 50 year old Jyoti Ram who was also a follower of Dera Sacha Sauda sect was beaten to death by Congress workers in an election related incident at booth number 35 in Hemomajra.

Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Sajjan Singh said that it was yet to be ascertained whether the person who died in Hemomajra was a victim of poll related fracas. “It can be confirmed only after an autopsy,’’ he said.

Signh said that polling at booth number 116 in Madina was on despite the fracas between two groups. “We have deployed more force there,’’ he said.

Notably, constituents of three booths in Kohand village in Gharaunda segment (Karnal district) have boycotted the polling.