Patna: Police fired in the air in East
Champaran and Aurangabad districts while a bomb was recovered
in Naxalite-affected Gaya as stray incidents of violence
marked the fourth phase of panchayat polls in Bihar today with
an estimated 61.41 per cent electorate having exercised their
franchise.
Police fired six rounds in air to scare away a stone
pelting crowd which was prevented from booth capturning in
Bharthauli village under Muffasil police station area in
Aurangabad district, state election commissioner J K Dutta
said.
In East Champaran district, police again fired two
rounds in the air to quell a mob at a polling booth under
Kantari East panchayat area, the official said.
In maoist-hit Gaya, timely detection of a bomb from a
polling booth in Noni panchayat under Tekari police station
area prevented a tragedy.
In Khagaria district a candidate for the post of
`mukhiya` was shot dead by miscreants at Vishanpur
village late last night, police said.
Terming the fourth phase of polls as by and large
peaceful except few incidents, Dutta told reporters voting
took place in 12,461 polling stations for 27,098 posts, spread
over 62 blocks of 38 districts, Dutta said.
Katihar district recorded the highest turnout of 71
per cent, while the lowest turnout was noted in Sitamarhi
district, 51 per cent.
The security forces arrested 967 persons from across
the state and seized Rs. 1.05 lakh in cash, four weapons, 115
rounds of cartridge, 192 vehicles, 21 mobile phones and 50
pouches of liqour as part of preventive measures against booth
rigging and other electoral malpractices, Dutta said.
Police arrested three persons at Suryagadha panchayat
in Lakhisarai district for poll-related offences, while four
others were held from a polling booth under Jehanabad police
station area in Aurangabad district for scrapping ballot
papers.
PTI
