Names of hundreds of people found deleted from voters’ list

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Hundreds of people could not exercise their  franchise in Ara parliamentary constituency (PC) in Bhojpur district on May 19, 2019, despite having Voters’ Identity Cards as their names were found deleted from the voters’ list without getting the form ‘7’ filled by the electorates. The voters concerned were stunned when they found that their names were deleted from the voters’ list at the polling booths and registered their strong protest with the poll officials. Ara PC went to polls in the 7th and last phase of General Elections on May 19.

Barring a few incidents of booth capturing, clash, polling in Ara parliamentary constituency passed off peacefully. Elaborate arrangements had been made by the district administration to ensure free, fair, and peaceful election and each and every booth was covered by with the paramilitary force. Scorching sun could not deter the voters as they were found standing in long queue at their respective polling booths since morning to exercise their franchise. The polling was somewhat low between 11am and  4pm due to soaring temperature.

The voters boycotted polls at Booth Nos 252 at Vishambharpur under Agiao block in protest against indifferent attitude of the people representatives and district officials in construction of road despite several request and agitation but later 17 persons cast their votes in the afternoon.

Two police personnel Arvind Singh of Begusarai and an ASI, GRP, Ara, Ashok Khan, were injured in a brickbatting between the police and the disturbing elements at booth Nos 49 and 50 at village Ekauna under Barhara block. Some disturbing elements tried to capture the booth and when police personnel objected to it, they pelted them with stones in which two of them received injuries.

Polling at over 30 booths in Ara parliamentary constituency started about one to two hours behind the schedule time because the EVMs  had to be reset.

Police allegedly thrashed Barhara MLA Saroj Yadav’s father and brother at Keshopur booth at Barahara after they tried to create nuisance at the booth. After that, the MLA rushed to the spot and used choicest words against police personnel.