Ballot Boxes Found In Fields After Polling Station Ransacked At Marutla

Anantapur:Tense situations prevailed at several places during the ZPTC and MPTC elections in Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts.

In particular, a mob attacked a polling station at Marutla-3 Colony in Kudair mandal of Anantapur district and took away the ballot boxes. Police later found the boxes at a deserted place near Marutla, with the ballot papers torn. Authorities have ordered a repoll at Marutla-3 Colony.

Clashes had been reported at several other locations.

The YSRC alleged that inspector K. Raju had detained its polling agents and allowed rigging at a polling station.

Kalyanadurgam MLA A. Surendrababu, accompanied by his aides, visited Bestarapalli in Kundurpi mandal in Anantapur district after receiving information that YSRC members are threatening women against voting. A group of YSRC members reportedly attacked the MLA's gunmen near the polling station.

YSRC in-charge for the Uravakonda Assembly constituency Y. Visweswar Reddy alleged that TD workers, led by Finance minister Payyavula Kesav, resorted to rigging in several parts of the constituency.

“Police openly supported the ruling alliance. They colluded in cyclical voting and rigging by threatening the YSRC agents,” Visweswar Reddy charged.

A tense situation prevailed at Polepalli in Brahmasamudram mandal of Anantapur district, where TD and YSRC groups clashed. Police dispersed both groups and facilitated polling.

At Raptadu, police detained YSRC leader and former MLA T. Prakash Reddy when he attempted to visit Kanganipalli. Prakash Reddy alleged that he had been restrained by police when he wanted to prevent TD workers from rigging the polls after threatening polling agents in the mandal.

An official report put the polling percentage in Anantapur district at 64.83.