Jodhpur: Clashes, stone-pelting and allegations of bogus voting and ballot paper theft disrupted the second phase of panchayat elections in Jodhpur district Friday. Police arrested 57 people and seized 20 vehicles in connection with election-related disturbances across the district.Polling was held for sarpanch and ward panch posts in 431 gram panchayats under 17 panchayat samitis. The district recorded a voter turnout of 84.41% by 6 pm, officials said.The most serious incident occurred at Bhavi gram panchayat in Bilara, where 150 ballot papers allegedly went missing from booth No. 12 around 1 pm. The incident triggered protests by hundreds of villagers, who staged a sit-in demanding an impartial probe and action against those responsible. The demonstration also disrupted voting as people waiting in queues joined the protest.District Election Officer Alok Ranjan said the missing ballot papers were later recovered but had been marked. A report confirmed their theft and tampering, following which repolling was ordered at the booth. A police complaint was also filed.According to the returning officer’s report, an unidentified person took away the ballot papers while the polling staff was assisting a differently-abled voter. Police registered a case and launched an investigation.Stone-pelting was reported from Pal, Motiba Nagar and Khetasar in Osian, besides parts of Bhopalgarh and Borunda. A disturbance involving vehicles was reported from Ghantiyala. Allegations of bogus voting also surfaced from Bhavi and Avamana.Rural SP Pankaj Yadav said police arrested 57 people and seized 20 vehicles for their alleged involvement in election-related disturbances.Meanwhile, MLA Arjunlal Garg approached the district collector, seeking an impartial investigation and repolling in Bhavi gram panchayat.
