Poll violence: 1 dead in Gonda, SP shifted

LUCKNOW: One person was killed and two were injured during the second phase of village panchayat polls in Gonda district on Tuesday. Taking strong cognizance of the incident, State Election Commission has transferred Gonda police chief Anil Kumar Singh and suspended three officers, including a sub-divisional magistrate. Gonda SP has been attached to the DGP office in Lucknow.
Speaking about the incident, state election commissioner Satish Kumar Agarwal said, “It happened at polling booth number 239 in Bharha Para for Firozpur village panchayat. At 3.30 pm one Sonu Shukla, husband of a candidate Chandrakali fired bullets at Sajjad husband of another candidate Ranimul Misha, killing him on the spot and injuring Sajjad’s daughter Shahjahan and son Abdul Haq.”
“Shahjahan sustained serious injuries and was referred to Lucknow, while Abdul is undergoing treatment in Gonda,” Agarwal said, attributing the incident to gross negligence of local administration. The SEC has also ordered repoll at this booth.
The SEC has also postponed polling dates for Gonda district. The third phase of voting has been shifted to December 7 from December 5, while fourth phase of voting would now be held on December 10, in place of December 9.
The three officials who were suspended are Gonda Sadar SDM Narendra Singh, who has been attached to board of revenue, Sadar circle officer Akhand Pratap Singh, who has been attached to DGP office and Kotwali Dehat station officer Fanindra Yadav who has been attached to IG Gorakhpur zone’s office.