Burdwan: Poll ends with 72% voting in the district.

POLL ENDS WITH 72% VOTING IN THE DISTRICT

General Election 2004 Burdwan
The District Magistrate & Superintendent of Police, Burdwan at the press meet

Burdwan , 10 May 04 :
The district has experienced about 72% polling at this general election. "The rate may also increase as the figure is based on polling upto 5pm this evening. Many voters were still on the queue at this time." informed Subrata Gupta, District Magistrate, Burdwan at a press conference this evening. He also informed, "overall the district has experienced a peaceful polling. Although 37 EVMs malfunctioned at different booths in the district, polling were conducted with fresh machines at those places. One such EVM has been broken by miscreants at a booth in Jamuria. However polling at the booth was

continued after 3 hours with a fresh EVM." The DM also confirmed that, voters of 269-Galsi booth no. 4 restrained from voting in demand of electricity & up gradation of a primary school to a high school.

The Superintendent of Police, Kailash Chandra Meena informed at the press conference that, 1 person has been arrested while 3 other detained in the district. "Taraknath Pal, a Trinamool supporter of Siddapur, Jamuria, has been arrested with a pipe gun. Pradip Singha Roy, a TMC agent was detained by the police when he tried to opposed the presiding officer at his duty at Kalna. Ainal Mondal, a CPI(M) supporter has been detained when he was caught trying to vote without proper identity document." informed the superintendent of police .

Malay Ghatak, the Trinamool Congress leader & candidate at Asansol however declined the charges laid by the police super. He said, "Taraknath, a BJP supporter was arrested by the police from a booth, but he didn't had any arms with him. There is no one in the area who will dare to roam with a pipe gun." He also informed that, "the EVM at Jamuria was broken by the CPI(M) cadres & the administration is trying to blame us on the issue".

Several incidents of minor clashes between the TMC-BJP alliance & the CPI(M) supporters were reported in different parts of the district. However, no major incident has been reported. At two other incidents, one polling officer was admitted at the Burdwan Medical College & Hospital when a snake bite him near Satgechia, Memari. Another polling official was also rushed to the hospital after he suffered from heat stroke.