8 arrested so far and an investigation is on after ballot boxes were stolen in UP (Representational)
Two ballot boxes were stolen in Rihawali village of Agra Rural constituency during the Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections on Thursday, police said.
SP (East) Ashok Venkat said a clash broke out between supporters of candidates fighting for the gram pradhan post following which the two ballot boxes were stolen.
Four people were injured in the incident and they were taken to SN Medical College and Hospital here for treatment, he said.
SSP (Agra) Muniraj told reporters that eight people have been arrested so far and further probe is on.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Prabhu Narayan Singh said that he will request for re-polling at the affected booth.
"We will request for re-polling at the booth and action against the guilty will be taken," he said.
Voting for the first of the four-phased Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections, seen as a semi-final to the 2022 Assembly election, began on Thursday in 18 districts with ballot papers.
More than 3.33 lakh candidates are in the fray in over 2.21 lakh seats in the first phase for the posts of zila panchayat (district council) members, kshetra (block) panchayat members, village panchayat heads and wards.
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