Two killed in U.P. poll violence

By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW, JUNE 17. Two persons were killed and several injured in the second phase of panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh held today, with the authorities expressing satisfaction over the improvement in poll- related arrangements.

In the first phase of polling three days ago, violence claimed 12 lives and polling had to be cancelled in Shrawasti district following large-scale vandalism, clashes and rigging.

The police rounded up 70 people in connection with various violent incidents in districts, the State's Principal Home Secretary, Mr. V. K. Mittal said.

Today, one person was killed in a group clash at Juddi village under Kotwali police station of Bijnor district nearly 300 meters from the polling booth. One person was arrested in the incident.

In Mathura district, one person died of gunshot injuries in a village under Suhrid police station when a nearly 700-strong mob tried to capture a booth. Polling was disturbed and some poll personnel and policemen were injured.

The second phase of polling covered 182 development blocks in 67 districts.

Expressing satisfaction over the general situation, Mr. Mittal said the comparatively higher death toll in the first phase of polling was a bit similar to that during the last panchayat elections in 1996. In the first phase of polling that year 16 people were killed while 13 lost their lives in the second phase.

Meanwhile, reports from districts this evening suggested that the police had put under house arrest some political leaders, including a State Minister, Mr. Raghuraj Pratap Singh, and the leader of the Congress(I) Legislature Party, Mr. Pramod Tiwari, to maintain law and order.

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