Amid sporadic violence, an estimated 50 to 55 per cent of the electorate today cast votes for elections to the General House of the SGPC, known as mini-parliament of Sikhs.
Between 50 and 55 per cent of polling was recorded for the SGPC elections, Gurdwara Election Commissioner Manjeet Singh said.
Reports of clashes during the polling were received from almost all parts of the state, police said.
A person allegedly owing allegiance to ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) fired shots in the air in Kariwala village in Muktsar district, police said adding Panthic Morcha candidate Charanjit Singh was injured in the violence.
Polling was cancelled in villages Kariwala and Buttar Shera after a scuffle broke out between two groups.
In Ajnala in Amritsar, son of a Panthic Morcha candidate was arrested for carrying pistol outside the polling booth in village Mohan Bhandaria, police said.
The fate of 579 candidates from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Chandigarh was sealed in the ballot boxes in today’s exercise.
The counting of ballots commenced soon after the polling was over.
However, the results would be declared after a final verdict by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the wake of the controversy of not allowing Sehajdhari (non-baptised) Sikhs to exercise their franchise.
The polling was held to elect 170 out of 190 members of the General House of the SGPC.
News Source: Outlook India
