An unknown accused set on fire a center of one of the contestants of the Sarpanch of the Panchayat election, Thavar Chand Gamiti on Tuesday morning. Tension gripped the Kanpur Gram panchayat after which a number of villagers accumulated and blocked the road, appealing the police to start investigation.

The center was owned by the former ward panch Gehri Lal Dangi who stays in the same area and was informed about the mishap by neighbor Chogga Lal at morning. Police and 2 fire tenders were rushed to the scene and initiated the operation, informed Gehri lal.

Dangi added that Thavar Chand Gameti was defeated by other contestant Hemraj Gameti by 30 votes. All of them held a meeting at his center and decided to demand recounting of the votes and also to meet the district collector. On Monday night, after a meet, all of them went home at 10 PM and on Tuesday morning they were informed of the mishap at 4.30 AM.

Before the recounting of votes, the centers were targeted by the accused that set it on fire in which 50 chairs, tent, 200 sets of mattresses and a motor bike was completely burnt.

SHO Pratap Nagar police Chandra Purohit informed that the case has been registered against the unknown accused who burnt the center of Thavar Chand and the investigation has been started. Few of the villagers who blocked the road were also booked under the IPC act for causing discomfort to the local people.