Kasaragod: Clash erupts after BJP men prevent IUML activists from voting

Kasaragod, May 17: An approximate 73 per cent of the 9,90,513 electorate exercised their right to franchise in the district on Monday as the polling process ended on a peaceful note.

As per preliminary data, the State's northern border of Manjeswaram registered 70.70 per cent voting, Kasaragod 70.90, Uduma 74.60, Kanhangad 71.40, and Thrikkarippur, 75.60. No major untoward incident were reported from across the district as eight companies of Central and para-military forces assisted the local police in maintaining law and order.

However, there were brief disruptions in the voting process in several polling booths in the district, where the gusty summer showers the other day had affected power supply, as the officials had to sweat under humid weather and use light candles to oversee that polling process. Voting process at a booth at the Kumbala Holy Angel's convent in the Manjeswaram segment was interrupted for around 20 minutes as the voting machine developed snags.

In an isolated incident, Kasaba beach in Nellikkunnu locality here witnessed group clashes involving BJP and IUML workers around 1 p.m. Two IUML workers sustained injuries and an autorickshaw was damaged. The injured accused the BJP workers of preventing them from voting.

With sky remaining overcast all through the day and rain keeping away, voters turned up in large numbers, forming serpentine queues in most polling stations in the district. The momentum came down for a while in the afternoon, only to pick up in the final hours.

The voting figure in the district touched close to 60 per cent as the clock ticked three. Elaborate arrangements made at the polling stations helped the aged and ailing persons cast their votes in a hassle-free manner.

Manjeswaram and Uduma segments, which witnessed interesting contests, saw a quantum jump in voter turnout right from morning.