Two killed in Odisha Panchayat election

Two persons, including a Sarapanch candidate in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's home turf, were killed and 15 others injured in two separate clashes in Odisha's Ganjam district where polling for the fifth and last phase of Panchayat polls was held today.
At Bramhanachhai in the chief minister's constituency of Hinjili, a sarapanch aspirant, Bulu Pradhan (35), was killed late last night and at least 10 others were injured.
In another incident, Pitambar Swain (36), a supporter of the sarapanch candidate in Mardhakote Panchayat, was stabbed to death by his opponent groups last night, the police said. Five others were injured too, the police said.

The 10 injured in the Bramhanachhai incident were injured and shifted from the Hinjili hospital to MKCG Medical College and Hospital here, the police said.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission cancelled the election to all posts, including ward members, sarapanch, samaiti member and zilla parishad member, at Bramhanachhai panchayat following a law and order problem after the killing of a sarapanch candidate, Ganjam Collector and district election officer P.Ch Chaudhary said.
Forces were deployed in both the panchayats after the incidents. The situation in both the places was under control while voting in Mardhakote Panchayat was held peacefully, SP (Ganjam) Ashish Singh said.

The police kept a strict vigil on the situation at both the places, he said.
"We have identified the accused persons and they will be nabbed soon," Inspector In-Charge of Hinjili police station P K Sahoo said.