Polling across Rajasthan’s 25 parliamentary constituencies on Thursday was marred by some incidents of sporadic violence restricted to a few constituencies. According to the state election department, the state recorded a turnout of 50-55 per cent.

One person was killed in police firing in the Sawai Madhopur-Tonk constituency, while there were reports of violence between two communities in Dausa. There were also allegations of booth capturing in Jhalawar, Dausa and Sawai Madhopur. Re-polling has been scheduled at around 15 polling stations including Sawai Madhopur-Tonk, Dausa, Bharatput, Karauli-Dholpur, Pali, Jhalawar and Nagaur.

“Polling on an average was around 50 per cent. Sri Ganganagar recorded the highest at 62 per cent, while Jalore was the lowest at just 37 per cent,” said Rajasthan Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vinod Zutshi.

According to Rajasthan Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) K L Bairwa, the firing in Sawai Madhopur occurred in Olwara village at around 12 noon. “The duty officers did not let some people vote as they did not have the required documents. The people then resorted to violence and laid siege to polling booths 68 and 69,” he said.

Stating that the CISF personnel fired 24 rounds in the air to disperse the mob, Bairwa added: “One person, Netram Meena, was killed while another, Hemraj Meena, sustained injuries. Polling was stopped after the incident.”

Polling was also stopped in Tigriya village in the same district after duty officers noticed false voting. Angry residents then assaulted the polling and security personnel and destroyed the EVM.

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