Silchar, Feb. 12: The voters in Hailakandi district today rose to the occasion to ensure a peaceful and hassle-free first phase of repolling in 166 booths spread over seven zila parishads.

The returning officer and district deputy commissioner T.C. Goswami said a turnout of 50 per cent was recorded at 2pm, which is expected to rise to over 60 per cent. Today’s voting scenario contrasted with the one on January 9 when hooligans disrupted the panchayat polls in the district.

The vandalism had included tearing up of the ballot papers and stealing of ballot boxes from the booths. The district administration had ordered repolling in 371 of the 621 voting stations in the district, to be conducted in two phases.

While 80,651 voters are entitled to cast their ballots today, 1,04,407 voters are expected to exercise their franchise during the second phase on February15.

Goswami said the district was today put under an elaborate security dragnet with 18 additional companies of Assam armed police and two companies of the CRPF being deployed to ensure peaceful polling.

At least six policemen were posted at each polling booth.

However, the members of the AUDF filed an FIR at Jamira police post, alleging that Congress workers there indulged in false voting through impersonation.

Goswami added that the district was divided into 40 police sectors to help regular patrolling. The commissioner of the Barak valley districts and North Cachar Hills district, Sashadhar Nath, also reached Hailakandi town, the district headquarters, yesterday. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the district till late noon today.