Violence mars civic polls in Bhimnagar

Bhimnagar (Uttar Pradesh), July 1 (ANI): The initial peaceful and cordial round of voting for the ongoing civic polls was disrupted by a sudden burst of violence here on Sunday.

The clash erupted after some local leaders started throwing bricks and stones on women going to cast their votes. A local leader and some women were injured, who protested on the streets against the act.

"We didn't have a problem with anyone, we were just going to cast our vote in a peaceful manner. Suddenly some people started throwing stones from the ceilings of the houses and hit us on our backs. They were angry, as we were about to vote for their opposing candidate. But that is our vote, what right do they have to stop us? We will decide who we want to vote for," Neha Maqsood, a local, narrated the incident.

The police patrolled the area and asked the protestors to return to their homes, while trying to pacify the agitated locals.

Municipal corporations in Meerut, Moradabad, Varanasi Bareilly, Agra, Kanpur Nagar (city), Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Aligarh, Ghaziabad and Jhansi underwent polls in four phases starting June 24 till July 4.

The results will be declared on July 7. (ANI)