Odisha Panchayat Poll Violence: 17 Critical In Puri Bombing, Booth Capturing In Dhenkanal 

The first phase of the three-tier Panchayat Polls in Odisha, which was held on Wednesday, witnessed several incidents of violence in different parts of the State, exposing serious lapses in the security arrangements during the crucial rural body elections. 

In one such incident reported from Krushnaprasad block in Puri district, as many as 40 people were injured, including 17 seriously, after miscreants hurled bombs at booth no-IV in Alanda Panchayat in an attempt to capture the booth. 

Sources said the injured people were immediately rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. The police later confirmed the incident stating that as many as six bombs were hurled at the polling booth. 

In another incident in the same Block, miscreants forced their entry into booth no-VIII and decamped with the ballot boxes. The Krushnaprasad block development officer (BDO) confirmed the incident. 

Another incident was reported from Nihalprasad village under Gondia Block of Dhenkanal district, where miscreants attacked a presiding officer in a booth at the village before running away with the ballot box. The presiding officer, identified as Purnachandra Roul, has suffered head injuries. He was immediately shifted to the Gondia government hospital where he is undergoing treatment. 

More details are awaited.