Barring stray incidents of violence at Barnala in which five persons were injured and one Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) worker received bullet injuries in arm at Patiala, the polling to the four Lok Sabha seats, including the hyper-sensitive Bathinda and Patiala, today passed off peacefully with around 65 per cent of total 52.75 lakh electorate exercising their franchise braving the hot conditions.
Five persons, including four supporters of Congress, were injured when a group of activists owing allegiance to Students Organisation of India (SOI), a youth wing of ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) brandishing naked swords stormed outside a booth near Barnala bus stand and indulged in hooliganism, officials said.
A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) worker Musa Khan was injured after a bullet hit him in his arm when two unidentified persons shot at him at Arnabarna chowk in Patiala city, police said.
Tampers ran high among supporters of Congress and SOI at a booth outside Bathinda grain market forcing police to fire one shot in air to bring peace.
The voting of 65 per cent this time is higher as cumpared with the 61.59 per cent polling in 2004.