Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 2: A Sarpanch candidate and his supporters today held a day-long protest and blocked Jammu-Akhnoor Road alleging malpractice during counting of votes at Lower Amb Panchayat.
Around 200 people of lower Amb village this morning assembled at Simblewala on Jammu-Akhnoor Road and disrupted the vehicular traffic by burning tyres on the road. The protesting people claimed that the officials on election duty declared the BJP supported candidate winner even as their candidate was trailing by three votes at the end of the counting for Sarpanch elections.
“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 Sarpanch candidate in the polls, said.
Singh, who was leading the protesters, alleged that the officials declared the result at the behest of BJP leaders. He demanded re-polling in the Panchayat.
On getting information of the protest, SHO police station Kanachak, Inspector Gurnam Choudhary along with his team rushed to the spot and diverted the traffic through Gharota road. He tried to pacify the protestors but in vain.
Later in the evening, senior officers of police and civil administration reached the spot and on their assurance that the matter will be taken up with the election authorities, the protestors dispersed off peacefully and lifted the blockade.
“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.
Follow our WhatsApp channel