Bhatkal: Minor incidents mar polling in Uttara Kannada, 65% voter turnout
Yahya Hallare
Daijiworld Media Network - Bhatkal
Bhatkal, May 5: Voting for Assembly elections in Uttara Kannada district Sunday May 5 was marred by a few untoward incidents, but was largely peaceful.
The district recorded a voter turnout of 65.51%, with Bhatkal witnessing a percentage of around 72.
High security was deployed to ensure smooth elections. However, despite the security, minor clashes between political parties and chaos over missing names in voters' list were reported.
In one of the polling booths, independent Satish Sail's supporters clashed with BJP workers and went on a flash protest. Police intervention brought the situation under control. In another case related to the same candidate, an auto rickshaw ferrying voters was stopped as it openly displayed Sail's election symbol. When the police threatened to confiscate the auto, BJP workers arrived at the spot and started a protest, thereby hindering voting by about 30-45 minutes.
In a sad incident, an elector section officer identified as C M Mahendra, a principal of a college in Honnavar, passed away after he suffered a massive heart attack while travelling by jeep to Honnavar, where he had been posted on duty.
At Kanoor and Hulliser, several people protested on finding that theirs names were missing from the voters' list. Complaints were lodged in this regard. Minor lathi charge was reported at some other places.
Among the oldest voters in the district was a man aged 110 years.