17 February,2012 06:38 AM IST | | A Correspondent
The election to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation saw an estimated turnout of around 50 per cent. While the overall polling was smooth, four polling centres saw electronic voting machines (EVMs) conking off. Political workers were also detained by the police for creating ruckus at a few places.
Police action: The police try to control the violent situation at Bhatnagar
in Pimpri Camp (Panel No.u00a0 42) yesterday. Pic/Navnath Kaple
There was a riot-like situation at Bhatnagar near Pimpri, where more than 10 vehicles were damaged by supporters of two candidates. Another clash took place in the Kalewadi area between the supporters of an NCP and a Congress candidate.
Supporters of Deputy Mayor Dabbu Waswani and former Mayor Amar Mulchandani went on the rampage at Panel 42 around 2.45 pm. Youth numbering 20 to 25 armed with bats and hockey sticks damaged at least 10 vehicles and two bikes, after which police presence was immediately increased the area.
Voting machines at polling centres in Pimpri, Thergaon, Sangvi and Moshi stopped working, sending elections officials and voters into a tizzy. The voting machine in room 7 in Shreeji Apartments in New Sangvi stopped working around 7 am.
The machine was then repaired and voting was then resumed by 7.45 am. EVM's at centres in a municipal school at Moshi's Barhadewasti, MM School at Thergaon, and one in Bhatnagar also developed technical snags around the same time in the morning.
They were however repaired in an hour when election officials and technicians reached the spot. Supporters of NCP candidate and sitting corporator Santosh Kekane and Congress candidate Vinod Nadhe clashed heavily around 4 pm. Tension prevailed in the area and voting in two to three polling centres nearby had almost come to a halt as citizens were scared to venture out of their homes. Soon, the police reached the spot and the situation was brought under control.
No bursting firecrackers
Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Singhal yesterday issued an order prohibiting bursting of firecrackers from today to February 27 under Clause (U) of Sub-Section (1) of Section 33 of the Bombay Police Act 1951. The order disallows bursting of firecrackers from 10 pm to 6 am at any place. The order issued by the police also covers silence zones within a surrounding area of 100 metres which include hospitals, educational institutes and courts. The order also disallows usage of particular firecrackers like rockets, apti baar and garland crackers exceeding 20 feet.
