74 per cent voting was recorded in first round of election for gram pradhans and panchayats in 74 districts of Uttar Pradesh today which saw stray incidents of violence that left one person dead and a magistrate injured.
"Around 74 per cent votes were polled in the first phase. Barring stray incidents, the polling was by and large peaceful," State Election Commissioner S K Agarwal told reporters here.
In Mainpuri a 30-year-old man was killed while five persons were injured in exchange of fire between two groups during the panchayat polls even as the driver of the vehicle carrying the wounded to hospital died when it met with an accident.
Supporters of Debu Yadav and Pappu Yadav -- two of the contestants for the post of village pradhan -- clashed and opened fire at each other after voting started this morning in Chirra village, police said.
Six persons, including Debu and his brother-in-law Ajit, were injured in the firing.
The jeep carrying the injured to hospital overturned near Fardpur. The driver, identified as Avneesh (28), died on the spot whereas Ajit succumbed to injuries during treatment, they said.
Agarwal said that while repoll has been ordered at a few places, FIRs were also lodged.
He said that in Mirzapur a candidate Deepak Yadav along with his supporters attacked police and administration personnel in which city magistrate was injured.
There were around 2.97 crore people eligibile to vote in this phase. The elections will be held in four phases.
(REOPENS DES33)
Meanwhile, 63. 43 per cent voters exercised their
franchise in four blocks of Amethi tehsil in the panchayat polls today, District Magistrate Jagat Raj Tripathi said.
Amethi recorded 61.25 per cent polling, Sangrampur 61.25 per cent, Bhetua 66 per cent and Bhadar recorded 65 per cent.
SP Hira Lal claimed that no untoward incident was reported and the polling was conducted peacefully.
