In Bihar one person was killed and four- sustained injuries during clash between supporters of two contesting candidates at East Patahi panchayat in naxal infested East Chaparan district of the state last night. The incident occurred when supporters of candidates fired indiscriminately on each other at village Nanhkar under Patahi Police station of Motihari. AIR Patna correspondent reports that amid sporadic violence polling is underway for the second phase of panchayat elections in 895 gram panchayats in the state on Sunday. There is a report of clash between supporters of candidate in Samastipur. A cane bomb was recovered in Gaya district. In Palignaj area of Patna district polling was cancelled at two booths due to wrong ballot papers. The elections is being held on Sunday for 27 thousand nine hundred five posts of panchayats. The polling began at 7 am and will end at 5 Sunday afternoon. In naxal affected areas, polling will be upto 3 pm only. Over 52 lakh 87 thousand electorates will decide the fortune of 94 thousand seven hundred seventy six candidates. The state government has stepped up security arrangements for the elections. The Director general of Police told AIR that DIGs are camping in ultra- infested districts to ensure free and fair polls. Additional jawans of Bihar Military Police and Special Task Force had also been deployed in sensitive and hypersensitive areas to maintain strict vigil. The state administration had sealed the India – Nepal border along the state to stop infiltration and deployed security forces at all vulnerable points.
News On AIR | April 24, 2011 11:10 AM
Polling underway for 2nd phase of panchayat elections in Bihar; one dead in clash