Amid violence in Bengal, 2nd phase of LS poll records 66 pct turnout across India
New Delhi, Apr 18 (IBNS): The second phase of the Lok Sabha election witnessed a turnout of 66 percent on Monday though it was partly marred by sporadic clashes in West Bengal and Tripura.
A total of 95 Lok Sabha seats across 11 states and one in the Union Territory of Puducherry went for voting in this phase of the election.
In West Bengal ruled by Trinamool Congress, reports of violence emerged from several places including the attack on CPI-M candidate Md. Salim's car while he was on his way to cast his vote at Patagora in Raigunj constituency.
Violence erupted near a booth in Girpar under the same constituency. In Raiganj, Salim is contesting against Congress' Deepa Dasmunsi.
Voters have in Girpar and Chopra under the Darjeeling constituency blocked roads claiming they had not been allowed to vote.
In Darjeeling, police had to fire in the air to disperse the mob.
In Bengal, apart from Raiganj and Darjeeling, polling took place in the Jalpaiguri seat.
Villagers in Raiganj alleged booth capturing by ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Protesters also blocked highway and were lathi-charged by security forces.
Protests erupted in Chopra under Raiganj constituency after villagers took a person to the police. Villagers alleged that the person, said to be a Trinamool Congress supporter, was obstructing them from casting their votes. The villagers were being led by policemen to a booth after they blocked NH31, alleging they were not allowed to cast their votes.
While they were being led to the polling station, the villagers stopped on the way and said they don’t have any faith in the state police and began demanding that central forces escort them.
The voting process was halted at upper Bagdogra's 25/47 booth under Darjeeling constituency after a black tape was found on the BJP symbol in an EVM.
In Tripura's Khowai district, stones were hurled on Congress's Lok Sabha candidate and erstwhile royal Pragya Dev Burman. Stones were thrown at her convoy.
A supporter of the ruling IPFT has also been arrested.
The area is part of the Tripura East constituency, where the election was postponed in view of the security situation, said reports.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission received several complaints of faulty voting machines from various states, including Assam, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
In Tamil Nadu, where the election was otherwise peaceful, witnessed 384 faulty Electronic Voting machines.
About 692 faulty Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail machines were replaced in the state, said reports.
In Jammu and Kashmir, clashes erupted between security forces and stone pelters as the latter tried to foil polling in Batmaloo area of Srinagar city, Pandach area of Ganderbal district and at four other places in Budgam district -- areas under the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
A civilian and four policemen, including two officers, were injured. in the clashes which broke out after the polling was finished.
Voting was also held in 14 seats of Karnataka, 10 in Maharashtra, eight in Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam, Bihar and Odisha, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, two in Jammu and Kashmir and one seat each in Manipur and Puducherry.
The counting of votes for all the seven phases of the election will be held on May 23.
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