Polling peaceful in Ahmedabad district

The panchayat polls in and around Ahmedabad district passed off peacefully on Thursday except for two incidences of violence.

A complaint was registered in both. In all, 367 villages in Ahmedabad had gone to polls on Thursday.

In the first incident, a group of people attacked the presiding officer at Kalyanpura in Dholka taluka.

The incident led to cancellation of the polls in the village. A complaint was later registered against those involved in the clash. Re-polling will take place in the village on Friday.

In the second incident, two groups of people clashed in an election-related violence in Motithori village of Viramagam taluka. What led to the clash is not yet known. Polling had to be stopped for some time. But, it was later resumed and then continued peacefully.

"The polling was peaceful in Ahmedabad range, Kheda and Anand," said GS Malik, IG, Ahmedabad range. About the Kalyanpura incident, Malik said the scuffle happened when the presiding officer asked some people for identity proof.

In Ahmedabad district, 880 policemen were pressed into duty to ensure peaceful polls. In addition, 100 police officials who were deployed for patrolling duty were assisted by 150 SRP jawans.

One DSP, eight DySPs (including three of Ahmedabad rural), 19 police inspectors (including seven of Ahmedabad rural), 19 PSIs, 800 home guards, and 600 gram rakshaks were stationed at various polling booths in Ahmedabad district.