Around 70 per cent voter turnout was recorded across Tamil Nadu till 3 p.m. on Thursday as polling progressed for the Assembly elections, even as a shocking incident of violence was reported from the Poompuhar Assembly constituency in Mayiladuthurai district, where a police officer on duty was stabbed inside a polling booth.
According to police, the incident occurred at a booth in Poraiyar, where voting had been progressing smoothly since morning. A head constable attached to the Kuthalam police station was suddenly attacked by a man with a small knife, sustaining injuries to his neck and hands.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, and his condition is reported to be stable. Security has since been tightened in the area, and efforts are on to nab the attacker.
Despite the isolated incident, polling continued at a brisk pace across the state.
Among the districts, Namakkal recorded one of the highest turnouts at 76.43 per cent, followed by Erode at 75.61 per cent. Ranipet registered 72.46 per cent, while Tirupattur reported 71.67 per cent and Vellore stood at 71.23 per cent.
Kallakurichi saw 70.76 per cent polling, and Chengalpattu recorded 69.40 per cent, indicating steady voter engagement across several regions.
In southern districts, comparatively lower turnout was reported, with Kanniyakumari at 61.95 per cent and Tirunelveli at 62.41 per cent, reflecting a relatively slower voting pace in those areas.
In Krishnagiri district, constituency-wise turnout figures showed Bargur (72.48 per cent), Uthangarai (72.07 per cent), Vepanahalli (72.10 per cent), Krishnagiri (69.81 per cent), Hosur (67.36 per cent), and Thally (67.81 per cent), with the district recording an overall 70.07 per cent turnout by 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, Coimbatore district witnessed steady polling across constituencies. Sulur recorded 74.47 per cent, Kavundampalayam 73.92 per cent, Pollachi 73.04 per cent, and Kinathukadavu 73 per cent.
Thondamuthur saw 72.50 per cent, while Valparai (70.65 per cent) and Mettuppalayam (70.26 per cent) maintained strong participation. Urban constituencies such as Singanallur (68.93 per cent), Coimbatore South (68.69 per cent), and Coimbatore North (64.06 per cent) reported relatively lower turnout.
Separately, residents of Muthalaimedu Thittu village in Kollidam announced an election boycott, citing a lack of basic amenities such as proper roads and drinking water.
Villagers staged protests with black flags, alleging that officials had failed to address their grievances.
Overall, polling remained largely peaceful across the state, with authorities maintaining strict vigil as voters turned out in significant numbers.
A head constable on election security duty was stabbed by a retired serviceman inside a polling booth in the Poompuhar Assembly constituency in Mayiladuthurai district on Thursday, triggering panic among voters.
The accused was identified as Prabhakaran of Kattucherry, a retired army personnel. He stabbed Vignesh, head constable at Kuthalam police station.
The police said that Vignesh was on security duty at the booth when a man suddenly attacked him with a screw driver he had brought along. Vignesh sustained injuries on his neck and both hands in the attack.
He was rushed to the Porayar Government Hospital, where he received stitches and first-aid treatment. Police said his condition was stable.
The Porayar police arrested Prabhakaran and launched an investigation into the incident.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the accused allegedly harboured hostility towards police personnel and that he had been involved in a similar incident before.
The incident occurred at Booth No 324 at Jamaliya Aided Elementary School in Porayar, where polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections has been ongoing since 7 am.
Officials said polling in the constituency remained brisk, with 36.65% voter turnout recorded till 11 am when the incident happened.
