Chandigarh: Voting for Punjab’s eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils and 20 nagar panchayats concluded on Tuesday amid reports of violence, clashes and political tension from several districts across the state.

Polling began at 8 a.m. and continued till 5 p.m. According to the State Election Commission, around 61.5 per cent voter turnout was recorded till the close of polling, though the final figures may change after updated data is compiled. Elections were conducted through ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The results will be declared on May 29.

Clashes and Stone Pelting Reported in Patiala

Several incidents of violence were reported during polling hours. In Patiala’s Samana, a clash broke out between police personnel and a crowd, leading to heavy stone pelting from both sides. Police also carried out a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, while reports of aerial firing also surfaced from the area.

During the commotion, one युवक reportedly suffered an electric shock. Before polling concluded, the gate of the polling station set up at Budha Dal Public School in Samana was allegedly shut.

Candidate Assaulted in Ludhiana, Firing Reported in Bathinda

In Ludhiana’s Raikot, a Congress candidate was allegedly attacked and severely injured, with reports claiming his arms and legs were fractured during the assault.

Meanwhile, incidents of aerial firing were also reported from Bathinda.

The Shiromani Akali Dal accused police officials of taking away a ballot box from Ward No. 2 in Bhucho Mandi in a police vehicle. Following the allegation, Akali supporters created a ruckus, surrounded the police vehicle and allegedly vandalised it.

Political Tension and Detentions During Voting

In Ludhiana, a social media influencer who reportedly got into an argument with AAP MLA Sarabjit Kaur Manuke was allegedly attacked.

Similar incidents of confrontation and tension were also reported from Khanna, Barnala and Sangrur.

In Sangrur, police detained former OSD to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Onkar Singh Brar, who had recently left the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the BJP.

Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu was also stopped by police in Dhuri while he was reportedly on his way to meet a candidate who had allegedly been assaulted.

Vehicles Detained, Allegations Over Voter Transportation

During polling in Abohar, police detained four youths travelling in an HR-number vehicle carrying an NSUI nameplate.

In Faridkot, AAP MLA Gurdit Sekhon alleged that the BJP was using an Army school bus to transport voters, leading to protests and commotion in the area.

Authorities maintained tight security arrangements across Punjab to ensure peaceful conduct of the civic elections despite multiple incidents of unrest reported during the day.