A stone pelting incident was reported near Bochiwal Bhawan in Fatehpur Shekhawati, Sikar, during the ongoing Rajasthan assembly elections. Heavy police deployment has been initiated in response to the clashes. According to the police, stone pelting began following a verbal clash and there was no hindrance caused to voting by the incident. The police urged locals to cast their votes as security would be provided for all.
Addressing the stone-pelting incident, Fathepur's Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ramprasad informed ANI, "There has been stone pelting among some people after a verbal clash. Some people have been dispersed, and some people have been detained. We will take strict action. The polling is underway, but this place (of clashes) is away from the polling booth. There is no hindrance to voting... Those who have not cast their vote yet should go and vote. Security would be provided for everyone."
According to Sikar Superintendent of Police (SP) Paris Deshmukh, six to seven people have been detained in the incident. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) teams were deployed while one police jawan suffered minor injuries. "Those who are responsible, we will take appropriate action," he told ANI.
Rajasthan Election 2023: 68% Turnout Till 5 PM
More than 68% of the electorate had cast their votes by 5 pm on Saturday, as per the Election Commission of India. Polling commenced at 7 am in 199 assembly constituencies in Rajasthan. The voting percentage increased steadily, with nearly 10% recorded in the first two hours, rising to almost 25% by 11 am, exceeding 40% by 1 pm, and 55% by 3 pm. Voting will continue until 6 pm.
Polling is being conducted in 199 out of the 200 assembly constituencies in the state. Over 5.25 crore voters are deciding the fate of 1,862 candidates in these 199 seats. Notably, polling in the Karanpur assembly constituency in Sriganganagar has been postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate, with votes set to be counted on December 3.
In another incident, a polling agent affiliated with the BJP died of a suspected cardiac arrest in Pali district during the elections. Shanti Lal, the polling agent at booth number 47 in the Sumerpur assembly constituency, collapsed at the center. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital and then to the district hospital, doctors declared him dead on arrival. The suspected cause is a heart attack. Lal served as a polling agent for Joraram Kumawat, the BJP candidate from Sumerpur.