UP: 3 dead,75% polling in Phase 2

One person was killed in Jahanpur village in Muzaffarnagar,and a woman,Guddi Devi,died in Firozabad after rival groups fired at each other,Brijlal said.

One Vikram Singh of Panhera village under Kotwali police station of Jalaun district died of bullet injuries.

There was firing and heavy brick-batting in Firozabad,Amethi,Muzaffarnagar,Jaunpur and other places,Brijlal said. In Khetapur village of Jaunpur district,the jeep of a sector magistrate was set on fire.

Six people were injured in brickbatting in Jaunpur’s Ziyarmau village,the ADG said. Twenty-one incidents of pouring ink in ballot boxes was reported in as many districts. Ballot boxes were snatched at five places.

“A total of 38 persons have been arrested so far for creating disturbance in polling process,” Brijlal said.

Sporadic clashes were reported from various parts of Allahabad. Two jeeps and two motorcycles were damaged in stone-pelting. Five people were injured in a lathicharge in Kaundhiyara block.

The State Election Commission said 75 per cent voting was recorded. Additional Commissioner J P Singh said complaints of irregularities like pouring of water in ballot boxes and snatching of ballot boxes had been received from 36 districts. Reports had been sought from district magistrates,and repolling was likely to be ordered at over 36 polling stations,he said.

Polling was held in 15,312 kshetra panchayat wards,635 zila panchayat wards and over 1.54 lakh village panchayats spread over 198 development blocks in 68 districts.

Five people were killed and at least 36 injured in clashes during the first phase of the elections on October 11,which saw an 80 per cent turnout.