A severe dispute surrounding the panchayat election process in Bhavi village of Rajasthan's Jodhpur district escalated into severe violence late Saturday night. The unrest erupted after election officials ordered a fresh vote at a polling booth following the disappearance of 150 ballot papers. Protesters opposing the re-polling decision surrounded the local police station and launched an intense barrage of stones, injuring three station house officers and several police personnel. To restore order and disperse the aggressive crowd, police deployed tear gas shells and resorted to a baton charge.
Disappearance of 150 Ballot Papers Triggers Fresh Polls
The controversy originated during the sarpanch election held on October 30. During the electoral exercise in Bhavi village, election authorities discovered that exactly 150 ballot papers had gone missing from booth number 12. Taking serious note of the reported irregularity and to uphold the integrity of the voting process, the administration announced that a re-poll would be conducted at the affected booth on November 2.
However, the announcement of a re-vote provoked sharp anger among supporters of one of the contesting sides. Viewing the administration's decision as unacceptable, these supporters marched to the local police station to register their dissent. While they had initially gheraoed the premises immediately after the announcement, their agitation reignited on Saturday evening as a large gathering of villagers reassembled outside the station to stage an indefinite sit-in demonstration.
Midnight Agitation Descends into Stone-Pelting and Clashes
The sit-in outside the station took a sudden violent turn at approximately 11:30 PM on Saturday. The agitated crowd began hurling stones directly at the police personnel stationed outside, triggering chaos and panic across the premises. The unexpected assault left several officers hurt, with three station house officers among those who sustained injuries during the stone-throwing.
With the situation spinning out of control, security personnel acted decisively to disperse the mob and safeguard the premises. Police units initially launched a baton charge to push the demonstrators back, and as the stone-pelting persisted, officers fired multiple rounds of tear gas shells. The intervention eventually scattered the crowd, though palpable tension gripped the entire vicinity in the aftermath of the clash.
Security Hurdle for the Scheduled November 2 Re-Poll
Following the midnight violence, senior administrative and police officials rushed to Bhavi village to assess the ground reality and restore peace. What began as an electoral counting dispute has now transformed into a major law and order challenge for the district authorities, demanding heightened vigilance.
The administration now faces a dual challenge leading up to the scheduled re-polling on November 2. Officials must not only ensure that the re-vote at booth number 12 is executed fairly and without disruption, but also maintain law and order across the village in the wake of the violent outbreak and community anger. Law enforcement personnel have been placed on high alert and are maintaining strict surveillance over the area to prevent any further escalation.
