By-poll to elect sarpanchs held

By-election for the post of sarpanch in two panchayats in Maoist-hit Malkangiri district was held here today peacefuly amid tight security.
District officials said the by-poll was necessitated due to the death of the elected sarpanch of Kambeda and the Padmagiri sarpanch vacating the seat after getting a job, deputy collector and election-in-charge, Malkangiri, Narahari Behera said.
The voting was conducted from 8 am to 12 noon, he said.
Earlier, the samiti member of Mattataka panchayat and sarapanch of Materu were elected uncontested.
However, at Kurmanur and Chintalwada election could not be conducted as no one filed nomination paper due to fear of Maoists. The ultras had killed the sarpanchas, he said.