Maoist, political violence mar phase II Bihar polls

PTI

Patna, 24 October 2010: The second phase of Bihar Assembly polls involving 45 constituencies on Sunday was marred by attacks on a State Minister and burning of poll material by Maoists in Sitamarhi district as an estimated 29 per cent of the 98.44 lakh electorate exercised their franchise till 1 pm.

 

Heavily-armed Maoists, who have called for a boycott of the polls, raided booth no. 166 in Runnisyedpur Assembly constituency in Sitamarhi district and set fire to an electronic voting machine and other poll material, SP Rakesh Kumar Rathi said. Three poll personnel were reportedly missing after the incident, but the SP ruled out their kidnapping by the Maoists. Substitute material reached the polling centre and voting began as per schedule, he said.

 

In view of a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Sheohar district on Friday night in which six policemen were killed, the Election Commission had ordered that polling be held in Sheohar and Belsand along with three other Naxal-infested constituencies of Paroo, Minapur and Sahebganj between 7 am and 3 pm.

 

In Muzaffarpur district, vehicles of State JD(U) Minister Dinesh Prasad Kushawaha and ruling BJP nominee Veena Devi were attacked at two different places in their respective Minapur and Gayghat constituencies. While the Minister escaped unhurt, his bodyguard suffered injuries in the attack.

 

A report from Motihari, quoting official sources, said the bodyguard of ruling JD(U) nominee Siuji Rai was detained for trying to influence voters at a booth at Pakridayal in Madhuban constituency in East Champaran district. Around 48 persons have so far been detained as part of preventive measures in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi districts, official sources said.

 

According to the sources, an estimated 29 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in East Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Samastipur districts till 1 pm.