| Alleging malpractices in counting, protesters block Jammu-Akhnoor Highway | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 2: Scores of protesters on Sunday blocked Jammu-Akhnoor highway alleging malpractices during counting of votes at the end of the sixth phase of the ongoing panchayat elections, officials said.
The residents of lower Amb village blocked the highway at Batehra in the outskirts of Jammu, claiming that the officials on election duty declared the BJP supported candidate winner even as he was trailing by three votes at the end of the counting for sarpanch elections, the officials said.
"The counting of votes was carried out thrice and I was leading with three votes. I had got 786 votes against the nearest rival who had got 783 votes. But, the rival candidate was declared winner by one vote," Darshan Singh, a candidate in the polls, said.
Singh, who was leading the protesters, alleged that the officials declared the result at the behest of BJP leaders. The protesters burnt tyres on the road to press for re-election but later dispersed off peacefully after senior officials visited them, the officials said.
It is pertinent to mention here last night protestors also staged protest against the authorities.
"The complaint was related to counting of votes and the protesters were asked to lodge a complaint with the authority concerned. They have lodged a complaint and it will be investigated," District Election Officer Ramesh Kumar said. |
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