1,900 cases filed in first phase

CHENNAI: As many as 1,900 cases were registered across the State during the first phase of the local body elections.As per sources in the police, most of these cases were related to incidents of violence and the distribution of gifts during the first phase of polling in the 47,627 booths across the State.In Chennai, 23 persons were arrested in four cases, including the alleged assault of AIADMK booth agent Kuttyammal alias Saraswathi (35), and the attack on a ruling party functionary and his wife, in Ennore.Similarly, over 1,000 cases were registered before the first phase of polling began.   Two cases of murder were reported in Tirunelveli district.  In the first instance, a man was allegedly murdered after he filed a complaint against a candidate for the post of panchayat president with the State Election Commission.In the second incident, a VCK functionary, who was contesting as an independent, was allegedly murdered by unidentified persons at Karaimedu village, near Sirkazhi, Nagapattinam district.