20 bogus voters nabbed, two bids foiled in Bangalore

    BANGALORE: Polling was largely peaceful in Bangalore. Two bogus voting attempts were foiled in Mico Layout and Tilaknagar in the afternoon and 20 persons were arrested in this connection. In Mico Layout, some party workers spotted eight private buses filled with men and women in front of the Government School, Devarachikkanahalli and some of them were seen getting into polling booth No. 182 there and casting their vote. Party workers alleged these people were casting fake votes. Police arrested eight persons for allegedly trying to cast bogus votes though they were not residents of the area. They were identified as Anita, Soujanya, Kantamma, Bharamappa, Praveen, Anand, Santosh and Savitha. Investigation revealed that all were workers of a private garment firm in Hebbagodi. Santosh said a person called Vijay approached them five months ago and had collected all their photographs and assured them of getting their names into the electoral lists. He said they were later given their Epic cards and told to vote for the BJP. "We were assured Rs 500, food and drink for every vote," he added. In Tilaknagar, near Jayanagar, eight women and four men, all from Kolar were arrested for casting fake votes. They were Muniyappa, Srinivasa, Narayana Swamy, Saravana, Bhavani, Anusha, Geeta, Vasantamma, Manjula, Ashwini, Sujata and Sowmya. Tilaknagar police said there was commotion near polling booth No. 214 at the KHB Quarters in Chickpet constituency after some party workers and the 12 accused clashed over the issue. Source: TOI