Repolling under way in Puranapul

Hyderabad: Repolling is under way in one division of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Friday amid tight security, officials said.The polling in 36 booths in Puranapul division in the old city began at 7 a.m. State election commission officials said 15 percent voters cast their votes in the first two hours. The polling will continue till 5 p.m.

More than 34,000 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. The election commission ordered the repoll in view of the complaints of rigging and violence during the elections held on Tuesday. Forces including paramilitary personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls. Joint commissioner of police Shivaprasad said they were taking all measures to prevent violence. Outsiders are not being allowed in the division.

The police officer appealed to leaders of all parties to exercise restraint. The division had witnessed a clash between leaders of Congress and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) on Tuesday. MIM activists in the presence of their party president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had attacked Congress party's Telangana unit chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir at Mirchowk police station when the latter had come there to demand release of their party candidate Mohammed Ghouse.

During the polling held in all 150 divisions, 45.27 percent voters turned out to exercise their franchise. Due to the repolling in Puranapul, counting of votes has been delayed. The process, which was scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Friday, will now be taken up from 3 p.m. GHMC commissioner and special Janardhan Reddy said the results will be announced after 5 p.m.

PTI