2 Ballot Box Observers Killed in Malatya

* Photograph: Okan Coşkun / AA

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Two ballot box observers have been shot to death in a dispute that erupted during the voting procedure in the district of Pütürge, Malatya.

At around 10.30 a.m. today (March 31), a dispute erupted between two groups during the voting process at the Bölünmez Neighborhood Primary School in Pütürge. As reported in the press, Hasan Aktaş and İlyas Aktaş have been shot to death during the incident.

SP Chair: They objected to open vote

Necdet Gökçınar, Felicity Party's (SP) metropolitan mayor candidate for İstanbul, has announced that the deceased people were the ballot box observers of the SP. Making a statement on his social media account, SP Chair Temel Karamollaoğlu has also said,

"As a result of an attack by the nephew of AKP [ruling Justice and Development Party] candidate in Pütürge, Malatya, one ballot box observer and one polling clerk of our party have lost their lives. This incident is not a simple dispute; there was an attempt to make people cast open votes and our observers objecting to this situation have been massacred."

One person who allegedly fired the shot has been taken into custody after the incident. Security forces have taken security measures around the school and in the neighborhood. 

President Erdoğan: It shouldn't be turned into judgement between parties

Voting at the Saffet Çebi Secondary School in Üsküdar, İstanbul at around 3 p.m., President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also spoken about the incident:

"We are really sorry for what happened in Malatya. Such a thing should not have happened. Our Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, the judiciary are conducting the necessary inquiries and investigations right now.

"However, I do not approve that this situation is turned into an interrogation or judgement between the parties. In such cases, the words that would come out of our lips are of considerable importance. I hope that no incidents will arise until the election comes to an end. It is going well until now." (AS/SD)