Post-Panchayat polls violence erupts in parts of Odisha

Post-poll violence erupted in different parts of Odisha soon after the final phase of Panchayat elections ended in the state.
At least four policemen were injured in Kendrapara district this evening in their bid to save ballot boxes being snatched by a group of miscreants.
The miscreants pelted stones at vehicles carrying poll personnel and ballot boxes, the police said.
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and three constable were injured in the heavy brick-bating. Two vehicles carrying the ballot boxes to the strong room in Kendrapara town were also damaged in the attack, the police said.
The incident occurred at Harijasahi village, said Inspector of Nikirai police station, Pramod Kumar Lenka.

The policemen escorting the polling personnel offered strong resistance and successfully thwarted the ballot box loot attempt, Lenka said.

The ballot boxes were later brought safely to the strong room with police reinforcement. The miscreants have been identified and a search was on to nab them, he said.
In the same district, a woman office-bearer of BJP's district unit was injured at Kansara village after being allegedly attacked by activists of the rival BJD.
An FIR has been lodged in this connection, said BJP district unit president, Sukant Dwivedy.
A former Sarpanch allegedly broke open the Kuhudi panchayat office in Marshaghai block of Kendrapara district and feed with the cash book and other records after his daughter lost the polls.

In another incident of post-poll violence, four
persons sustained injuries in Mehindinagar Gram Panchayat when the supporters of two Ward members clashed with each other.
In Karandiapatana village, some persons set afire the house of Balaram Jena, a BJP supporter.
"Police are investigating both cases and the accused will be arrested soon," said IIC of Patkura police station, Debendra Mallick.
In Jajpur, miscreants snatched ballot boxes from the polling personnel at Booth No 1 of Bandalo Panchayat of Korei block and Booth No 2 of Sribantapur panchayat under Rasulpur block after assaulting the polling personnel.
Trouble erupted in a booth in Bhotaka under Rasulpur block when groups from two political parties clashed over casting of vote even after the polling was over.

A report from the Maoist-hit Kalahandi district said at least 968 people of 26 villages under Trilochan Pur Gram Panchayat did not cast their votes due to Maoist threats.
Maoist leader Umakanta of the Ghumsar-Nagavali- Bansadhara division, through an audio tape on February 12, had cautioned villagers of Kalahandi, Raigada and Kondhmal districts not to participate in the elections.