Haryana elections: Voting disrupted after poll violence in Barwala village

Two groups belonging to the Jat and Balmiki communities clashed after a heated argument between the INLD and HJC workers at booth number 76 in village Niana of Barwala constituency on Wednesday.

Two groups belonging to the Jat and Balmiki communities clashed after a heated argument between the INLD and HJC workers at booth number 76 in village Niana of Barwala constituency on Wednesday. In no time, the entire village divided into two groups who started pelting stones at each other. The voting had to be stopped at 1pm and it resumed at about 4pm.

Some miscreants torched seven motorcycles parked near the polling booth and at least dozen people were injured in the melee. The presiding officer called police to ensure safety of EVMs and the staff on duty. The police had to fire in the air to disperse the crowd.

Superintendent of police Vikas Dhankhad rushed to the village with additional force and it took two hours to bring the situation under control. The injured have been admitted to the civil hospital, Hisar.

The situation is tense in the village and more police force is being deployed as a precautionary measure.