75% voting recorded in Phase 2
The average voter turnout in Burdwan, Hooghly and East Midnapore till 5 pm on Monday was 75 per cent, with long queues seen outside booths making it clear that polling would continue till late tonight.
However, heavy polling was marred by incidents of violence and rigging which may result in repolling in nearly two dozen booths. Sources at state election commission said that by the end of voting, the average turnout was expected to cross the 85 per cent mark.
The incidents of booth capturing, stealing of ballots and intimidation occurred mainly and Burdwan and Hooghly. There were very few such reports from East Midnapore.
“Apart from the three deaths reported from Burdwan, the voting was peaceful and we received a mixed reaction. We have received reports of booth capturing and stealing of ballot papers from all three districts. There are possibilities that those may once again go to polls,” SEC secretary Tapas Ray said.
According to SEC reports, the list of booths where stealing of ballot papers were reported are booth No. 95 in Katoa, booth No. 94 and 142 in Mangalkote, booth No. 36 in Jamuria, booth No. 61 in Ketugram, booth No. 6 in Barabani, booth No. 53 in Bhatar, booth No. 12 in Pandaveswar and booth No. 108(1) in Galsi. The booth No. 124(2) in Polba and booth No. 84 in Chanditala in Hooghly concluded the election commission’s list of booths which may go to poll on July 18.
Mr Ray also said that the commission had received reports of bike rallies despite the ban by the Calcutta high court on such rallies. “Yes, there are some reports regarding the bike rallies. The circumstantial incidents might have encouraged such rallies to continue,” Mr Ray said.
Meanwhile, the Opposition voiced displeasure over the deployment of Central forces at the polling premises. According to the commission, most of the hyper sensitive booths were polling premises having single polling stations. The deployment policy prohibits deployment of central forces in the single premises thus a large number of hyper sensitive booths were not covered by Central forces.
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