SI among 16 polling party members arrested in Obra

Patna/Aurangabad: At least 10 persons were injured in clashes during the third phase of panchayat elections which recorded around 60% voters' turnout on Monday.
State election commission sources said over 400 persons were arrested from different places and security forces seized 300 live cartridges, 1.4 litres of liquor, one air gun and Rs9800.
State election commissioner Asok Kumar Chauhan said except a few stray incidents of violence, the election was peaceful compared to the first and second phases of polls."At least 10 persons were injured in this phase of polls. Around 60% of the electorate exercised their franchise," he said.
Sixteen members of the polling parties, including a sub-inspector of police deployed on duty at three booths in Obra block of Aurangabad district were arrested for influencing the voters.
Aurangabad DM Kawal Tanuj and SP Babu Ram made a surprise visit at polling booths no 63, 64, 65 at Wub panchayat under Obra block of the district. They were stunned to see a video recorded by a female police constable. The video was on bogus voting done at the alleged instance of SI Brajesh Kumar Singh, a presiding officer and a sub-zonal magistrate.
The constable also said that when she tried to stop the officials, she was threatened with dire consequences.
Both the DM and the SP ordered to arrest SI Brajesh Kumar Singh, presiding officer and the sub-zonal magistrate including nine other polling staff. They have been charged with supporting the booth grabbers and dereliction of duty. Talking to TOI, the DM said, "Altogether 16 booth grabbers have been arrested from various localities apart from the SI and other officers." An official on the condition of anonymity alleged that bogus voting was going at the instance of one Abhimanyu Sharma who had unsuccessfully contested the assembly election.
A home guard jawan was also arrested in Jamui district for allegedly influencing the voters at Razla in Jhajha town. Chauhan said strict action would be taken against them. In Gokula panchayat under Narkatiya block in Bettiah, three antisocial elements were arrested for pouring water and ink inside the ballot box. Two rival groups clashed under the Neemchak Bathani police station area in Gaya district. Around 300 live cartridges were recovered from the spot and five persons were arrested. Ten persons were also arrested from Runni Saidpur in Sitamarhi for indulging in violence. Another incidence of violence was reported from booth number 155 in Madhopur panchayat. At Khutahi, polling was stopped after 3pm due to violence. Rival groups reportedly clashed in Muzaffarpur, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Arwal, Jehanabad, Araria, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, and Siwan districts.
Technical glitches like different ballot papers were also reported from various places under Thathari and Astha panchayats in Nalanda district. Printing mistakes in ballot papers were reported from Maniyari panchayat in Darbahnga district.
Another technical problem was reported from Ghiwahi panchayat in Samastipur district where a candidate for the post of sarpanch had withdrawn his nomination, but his symbol was there on the ballot papers.
There were 65,95,475 eligible voters in the third phase of the elections. The election commission had provided 13,307 polling stations in 62 blocks of 38 districts and deployed 3,997 patrolling magistrates for peaceful and fair polling.