Clashes erupt in Assam panchayat elections; Ballot box dumped in pond

Violence broke out during the first phase of panchayat elections in Assam on Friday, leading to injuries and disruption of polling activities in Cachar and Sribhumi districts. Authorities reported at least three incidents of poll-related clashes, including a case where a ballot box was thrown into a pond in Sribhumi’s Choudhury Tilla area.

According to officials, supporters of rival political parties clashed at polling stations, with one violent altercation in Katigorah’s Tarinipur area injuring five people. Some of the injured were taken to Silchar Medical College and Sribhumi Civil Hospital for treatment. Two people have been arrested in connection with the incidents, and further investigation is ongoing.

Due to the chaos, polling was halted temporarily in several booths and cancelled entirely in one location. The Election Commission has been informed, and re-polling will be conducted where the process was disrupted. Incidents of vandalism, including ink and water being thrown on ballot papers, were also reported.

Locals and polling agents allege that prior warnings of potential violence went unheeded by the authorities, despite visible tensions building in the days before polling. They claimed that no adequate security arrangements were made at vulnerable booths, particularly in Katigorah.

Polling is being held in 14 of Assam’s 35 districts in the first phase, including Cachar, Sribhumi (formerly Karimganj), and Hailakandi. The second phase is scheduled for May 7, with vote counting set for May 11.