Nomination process for panchayat polls ends in Punjab

The process of filing of nominations for the forthcoming Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Punjab was over today amid clashes between ruling Akalis and opposition Congress activists at few places in the state.
Total number of nominations filed for Zila Parishad is 1,321, whereas for the Panchayat Samitis 10,085 nomination papers were filed, an election office spokesman said here tonight.
He said that Ludhiana is the district which witnessed largest number 791 of candidates filing their nominations for Panchayat Samitis whereas with the filing of 98 nomination papers for Zila Parishad, Sangrur stood first among all the districts, the spokesman said.

Meanhwile, in a clash between Congress and Akali workers, one person identified as Naseeb Singh PA to Congress MLA from Guruharsahai Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi was injured during the firing between the two parties at Ferozepur today, a report quoting officials said.
Both the Congress and Akali workers entered into a brawl during the filing of nomination for the ensuing Zila Parishad elections in Mamdot in Ferozepur district.
The brawl took violent turn as both the parties attacked each other, officials said.

Condemning the incident, Rana Sodhi said Congress workers will organize a dharna in Ferozepur tommorow in protest against the atrocities unleashed by the Akalis.

Sodhi called the incident as a "murder of democracy", saying that Akalis have taken law in their hands.
On the other side, senior Akali leader Vardev Singh Mann denied all the allegations.
Mann said that not even a single bullet was fired nor any Congress worker was attacked. "It is a totally fabricated story" he added.