Badungar says he fears booth capturing

Fearing intimidation of voters by the Chief Minister, Badungar said the central forces, which the Commission had ordered to be deployed, were actually patrolling on roads.

Former SGPC Chief and senior Akali leader Kirpal Singh Badungar, who had two days back led a delegation to the Election Commission urging it to deploy more central forces in Patiala, Sangrur and Faridkot during May 10 polls, today said he feared booth capturing and use of muscle men at the behest of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

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"We apprehend booth capturing on May 10, use of muscle men and official machinery on the day of polling at the behest of the Chief Minister and para-military forces in good number should be deployed at all sensitive booths," he told reporters here.

Fearing intimidation of voters by the Chief Minister, he said the central forces, which the Commission had ordered to be deployed, were actually patrolling on roads.

Badungar said there were over 15000 booths in the state and many of these were sensitive. All sensitive booths should be manned by the central forces, he said.

The Akali leader said he wondered if FIR could be registered against PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti for unveiling a voter, why action was not being taken against Amarinder Singh who was allegedly "creating fear psychosis among the people".