Poll passes off peacefully

• Clashes break out involving TDP, YSRCP & Cong activists
• 20 injured in Kurnool district
• Maoists snatch ballot box
• Two legislators placed under house arrest by police

Hyderabad: Snatching of a ballot box by the Maoists in Visakhapatnam district, clashes between activists of TDP and YSRCP in five districts, house arrest of two MLAs, agitation by TDP activists at a polling station in Achampet (Guntur) and seizure of four buses transporting voters marked the final phase of ZPTC and MPTC elections on Friday. According to information reaching here, the Maoists are learnt to have carried away a ballot box at Busikuttu village in Munchingiputtu mandal. Details of the incident were not immediately available.

20 injured, one serious

Twenty persons were injured when supporters of the Congress and YSRCP clashed during in Halaharvi mandal of Kurnool district. A petty issue followed insistence of a YSRCP agent to cast his father’s vote, which was prevented by his Congress counterpart. There was a flare-up leading to stone-pelting and attacks with sticks by activists of the rival parties. One of the injured is stated to be serious.

TDP leader attacked

TDP leader Pothireddy Srinivas Reddy was attacked allegedly by YSRCP activists, following a clash between the rivals at Talluru in Addanki mandal in Prakasam district. Police dispersed the warring groups using lathis. They registered bind over cases against 28 persons in Darsi.

TDP candidate’s house attacked

In yet another clash between TDP and YSRCP supporters in which stones were thrown at each other groups several times in Krosur after the house of TDP candidate Kommineni Vijayalakshmi was attacked by rivals. This followed allegation that the TDP activists were distributing saris to lure voters. There was a huge gathering of YSRCP supporters. Police dispersed the activists.

Buses seized

Chipurupalli police in Vizianagaram district seized four buses near Alajingi which were allegedly transporting voters from Vijayawada. Two each vehicles were being brought by TDP and YSRCP, CI Raghavulu said. The seized buses were shifted to the police station.

TDP demonstration

Telugu Desam activists demonstrated in Grandhasiri village of Achampet mandal of Guntur district, accusing the polling staff of being partial. Soon a clash between TDP and YSRCP ensued. Telugu Desam leader Rajanbabu was taken into custody, following which the party activists raised slogans condemning police for ‘attacking’ and ‘terrorising’ them. They wanted police to be relieved of duty for being biased. Local SI rushed to the village and restored peace after talking to the agitators.

Kamalapuram Legislator Veerashiva Reddy and TDP candidate Putta Narasimha Reddy were detained in their respective houses in the Kamalapuram mandal of Kadapa district. Police did not give the reason. Srikalahasti MLA Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy was confined to his house by police in view of the elections. Police deployed shadow parties near his residence. Earlier, Reddy cast his vote in his native Orandur village. There was peaceful polling in 228 booths of the constituency. Long queues of voters were seen in the morning itself in view of the heat.

Physically challenged beaten

A physically challenged person, Bandari Veeraiah of Thummalapalli village in Konijarla mandal of Khammam district, suffered a hand fracture after police allegedly beat him with lathis while he was coming to vote. He is being treated in a private hospital at Konijerla. Veeraiah alleged that police beat him while he was sitting on the village outskirts.

Agent swallows ballot

A party agent allegedly swallowed the ballot paper in a booth in Nallacheruvu of Anantapur district, after he was questioned by the poll staff for snatching it from a voter while he was voting for TDP.

YSRCP agent spits water in box

The YSRCP agent, Pudotu Anthaiah was taken into custody at Turakapalem in Muppala mandal of Guntur district, as he spit water in a ballot box, after drinking it, when ZPTC polling was on. As many as 236 of the total 361 votes were cast when the incident took place. The polling staff pushed him aside and informed officials. The ballots were found not soaked after being examined by the tahsildar and MPDO. The polling continued.