Andhra DGP reports 31 poll nomination incidents

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta said 31 election-related incidents were reported across 13 districts during local-body poll nominations on October 22, including 22 involving violence or public disorder and nine involving nomination papers being snatched or torn. Gupta’s figures came from an official police statement. The reports repeat that account, and the incident totals and accusations have not been independently established in the information available. He said Anantapur recorded eight incidents, the highest district total. Annamayya, Kadapa, Prakasam and Tirupati each recorded three; Chittoor, Sri Sathya Sai and Palnadu had two each, while five other districts had one each. The DGP said 16 nomination papers were snatched, torn or destroyed. He also reported six incidents involving stones or sticks, four vehicles set on fire, damage to two homes, one incident of firing into the air and three road blockades or other traffic obstructions. One home was reportedly demolished with an earthmover. In one incident, stones were thrown at a police vehicle escorting three candidates to a nomination centre. Gupta said a constable suffered a grievous head...