Booths have been ‘captured’ in some polling stations in Lalitpur, Dolakha and Baglung districts. The Election Commission (EC) has received complaints of booth capturing by Maoists in Kaleshwor, Thula Durlung and Gumdi VDCs in Lalitpur constituency-1, and official an investigation into the complaints is underway. A report from Dolakha said Nepali Congress supporters captured two polling booths in Gaumudi VDC in constituency-1 of the district while the Maoists have captured a booth in Malu VDC. Similarly, the CPN (UML) has captured a booth in Sahare VDC of the same constituency in Dolakha. Likewise, Rastriya Janamorcha has captured a booth in Rangkhani VDC in Baglung constituency-2. Meanwhile, there are reports of clashes between the cadres of rival political parties in some districts. In Sonapur of Sunsari district, cadres of the Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist) clashed following a dispute. Reports said at least 13 persons were injured, two of them seriously, in the scuffle. Similarly, there was a violent clash between cadres of Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) in Laukaha of Rautahat district. Reports said the clash left 15 persons injured on both sides. In a similar incident, Maoists and UML cadres clashed in Rayal Garjeni of far-western Bajhang district, prompting blank firing by the security personnel. Situation had come under control after the police intervened, reports said.
Meanwhile, Voting has been postponed in seven polling centres in different districts following disputes between the cadres of political parties and attempts of booth capturing.
Election Commission (EC) officials said that voting has been postponed in v Sajhapur centre and Janaki Secondary School centre in Meghauli Chitwan district, Sugabhawanipatti centre in Saptari-3; Balara centre in Sarlahi-3, Tetnahapatti High School centre in Siraha-2 and Banauli Danauli centre of Mahottari district have been cancelled.
Polling has also been cancelled at Balkot centre in Arghakhanchi district after the Maoists reportedly tried to capture booth.
EC officials said that polling may resume in some of these centres after negotiation with the political parties.
Meanwhile, Rastriya Janamorcha cadres have captured a polling booth in Rangkhni of Baglung constituency-2, reports said.
Similarly, reports from Siraha district said the Nepali Congress cadres attempted to capture a polling booth in constituency No. 2. In the same constituency, Young Communist League (YCL) cadres and police opened fire at each other, but nobody was injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, one person was killed in a stampede after unidentified persons opened fire near a polling centre in Parsapatauli of Mahottari district.
The victim was hit by a jeep when the terrified voters were rushing for safety after the shooting incident.
Reports coming say that cadres of Maoist-affliated Young Communist League barred Rastriya Prajatantra Party chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana, a RPP candidate from constituency no 3 in Sindhupalchowk district from visiting a polling center this moring to cast his vote.