Punjab today ensured overall peaceful 1 phased poll to elect 117 representatives for legislative assembly in which little less than 2 crore electorate exercised their franchise.Thanking the people of Punjab to come out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right despite implement foggy and climatic weather Mr. V.K Singh Chief Electoral Officer Punjab said that by conducting themselves responsibly people of Punjab has set an example for other States to follow. He said that focus of ECI was to ensure peaceful poll in a free and fair manner. He said that it was a matter of great satisfaction that 1129 model polling station and 96 all women polling stations were great success Mr. Singh said that noble feature of this election was deputing 8166 micro-observers in addition to 100+ other observers of ECI who would be submitting their reports to the commission very soon.Explaining the successful experiment of VVPAT by ECI in Punjab, he said that 33 constituencies would covered by new transparent system and 6668 VVPAT machines were used for the first time in the country. He said that in the morning during mock trial 538 VVPAT machines were replaced and 187 were replaced during the conduct of poll especially in Majitha, Muktsar and Sangrur Districts and poll was slightly delayed in 25 polling booths of Majitha, 10 in Sangrur and Muktsar. He said that 195 EVM machines were replaced during mock trial in 47 afterward. He said that there was not a single case of deception of poll and inducement of voters that was brought to the notice of the Commission during the day. Mr. Singh thank over 1.28 lack polling personnel over 31,000 CAF security personnel and 55,000 Punjab Police Personnel for working day and night to ensure free, fair and peaceful poll in the State.
Giving details on law and order front Mr. V.K Bhawra ADGP and Nodal Officer for elections said that an incident of firing has been reported from Lallughuman in Tarantaran assembly constituency where scuffle took place between supporters of two rival groups over the issue of fake votes of some voters. Firing was reported in which one Jagjit Singh got injured in his leg. FIR was registered at Police Station Jhabal against the Sarpanch of the Village. Polling, however, did not get disrupted. Another similar incident occurred in village Ruppawalipolling station in assembly constituency FatehgarhChurian where two rival political parties entered into the tussle over the biased role of the presiding officers regarding casting of fake votes. One of the candidates demanded change of presiding officer but refused to give in writing. No one was injured. Adding further Mr. Bhawra said that in Dera Baba Nanak in District Gurdaspur a dispute arose between supporters of two candidates over allegedly casting of fake votes which resulted In injury to two persons namely Shamsher Singh and Kulwant Singh both residents of Padda. An incident of firing in air has also been reported from Guru Harsahai Assembly Constituency in the afternoon. Preliminary investigations are on. Another incident occurred in Zirakpur where two unknown persons scuffled at Village Lohgarh in Zirakpur area of Derabassi Assembly Constituency of district Mohali. Later one of the candidates reached the spot and said that there was firing on his supporters. SP/D was near the place of occurrence he verified through local people but firing incident was not substantiated. There was no impact on polling, added Mr. Bhawra.