SALEPUR: Ballot boxes were set afire in five booths at Sunderpur, Bandhakatia and Harirajpur villages of Bandhakatia gram panchayat under Nischintakoili block during the second phase polling on Monday.Police said while polling was on in booths 15, 16 and 17 in Sunderpur and Bandhakatia villages, some Congress supporters alleged before the presiding officers that local BJD workers were trying to capture the booths. When the BJD men refuted the allegation, it resulted in a scuffle between workers of both the parties. At around 11.30 am, some miscreants barged into the booths and snatched away three ballot boxes. They then set them afire.Later, some miscreants entered booths 2 and 3 in Harirajpur and took away the ballot boxes when the polling officials were preparing for counting the votes. Here too, they destroyed the boxes. Receiving information, DSP Satyanarayan Behera rushed to the spot.In another incident, supporters of a Congress candidate for the sarpanch post entered booths 3 and 4 in Ramaranga village under Nischintakoili block and snatched away two ballot boxes and threw them in a pond.At Sukerpara, supporters of a sarpanch candidate who reportedly lost the election staged a road blockade on Cuttack-Kendrapara State Highway, alleging booth capturing by the supporters of a rival candidate in booth 2 at Haladharpur village under the same block. The agitators were pacified after administrative officials promised action.Meanwhile, Cuttack Collector Girish S N has written to State Election Commission for re-polling in all the seven booths.
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