UP panchayat polls: One killed in violence

74 per cent voting was recorded in first round of election for gram pradhans and panchayats in 74 districts of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday which saw stray incidents of violence that left one person dead and a magistrate injured.

“Around 74 per cent votes were polled in the first phase.

Barring stray incidents, the polling was by and large peaceful,” State Election Commissioner S K Agarwal told reporters here.

In Mainpuri a 30-year-old man was killed while five persons were injured in exchange of fire between two groups during the panchayat polls even as the driver of the vehicle carrying the wounded to hospital died when it met with an accident.

Supporters of Debu Yadav and Pappu Yadav -- two of the contestants for the post of village pradhan -- clashed and opened fire at each other after voting started this morning in Chirra village, police said.

Six persons, including Debu and his brother-in-law Ajit, were injured in the firing.

The jeep carrying the injured to hospital overturned near Fardpur. The driver, identified as Avneesh (28), died on the spot whereas Ajit succumbed to injuries during treatment, they said.