Purported booth capturing by a Sarpanch candidate and his supporters at Ward number-5 in Rudrapur Panchayat under Jajpur’s Bari Block was captured live in a mobile phone camera, opening gaping loopholes in the security arrangements during the Panchayat elections in Odisha.
In the video, circulating on the social media, it can be clearly seen the Sarpanch candidate and his supporters forcefully capturing the ballot box and dropping multiple ballot papers into it after stamping on their election symbol.
Tension erupted in the area following the incident culminating in clashes between villagers. Five persons were injured in the clashes.
As per reports, additional police contingents have reached the spot. The situation is said to be normal now. The polling party has returned with the ballot box.
Speaking on the incident, the Collector of Jajpur district said, “This is a serious incident and the Election Commission will be briefed about it.”
Earlier in the day, several on-duty journalists were brutally assaulted by miscreants trying to capture a booth by force during the first phase polling for the three-tier Panchayat Elections at Badal Panchayat under Kanas block in Puri.