HYDERABAD: The third and final phase of elections to gram panchayats passed off peacefully barring minor incidents, including five incidents of police firing in the air to disperse unruly mobs on Sunday, in various districts.

Amid tight security polling began on a brisk note across the State but incidents of group clashes marred the elections. Heavy rain and flooding of several areas in the State forced postponement of elections in 591panchayats. In all, 6,923 panchayats were scheduled to go to the polls in 25 revenue divisions.

Violent turn

In Anantapur district, elections took a violent turn with clashes being reported from several places. Ten persons were hurt in stone pelting between Congress and TDP cadres in Devunuppalapadu village in Pedda Pappur mandal. The injured were rushed first to Tadipatri hospital and later shifted to Kurnool where the condition of one Rambhupal Reddy was said to be critical. A report from Kadapa said faction zone CI Venkatramappa sustained injuries in stone pelting in Saidapuram in Thondur mandal forcing the police to open fire in the air.

Three persons were hurt in a clash between Congress and TDP workers in Annavaram in Chapadu mandal.

In Singanapalli in Owk mandal, a woman sustained bullet injury when the gunman of Challa Bhagiratha Reddy, Youth Congress leader and son of Koilakuntla MLA, Challa Ramakrishna Reddy, opened fire after a clash.

Other incidents of firing were reported from Miryampalli in Prakasam district, Vasalatippa and S.Yanam villages in East Godavari district.

In Miriampalli, 12 persons were hurt in a clash between two groups, who hurled country-made bombs at each other. Three home guards also sustained injuries in the incident forcing the police to open three rounds of fire in the air.

In Nalgonda, 16 persons including three policemen received injuries in poll related violence in Miryalaguda division. CPI workers in Kommepalli of Devarakonda mandal beat up eight TDP activists.

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