Patna: The final round of the Bihar panchayat polls will not be held in five districts on Wednesday due to the fear of Maoist violence, officials said on Tuesday.
AB Pandey, an official of the state Election Commission, said panchayat polls in Gaya, Aurangabad, Banka, Jamui and Rohtas have been postponed. However, elections in other districts would be held as per schedule.
"After Maoist violence in Jamui two days ago, it was decided to postpone polls in Maoist-affected districts as there is a shortage of Central paramilitary forces," Pandey said.
Maoists killed one official of a polling party, injured two and abducted seven officials on Sunday in Jamui district during the ninth round of the 10-phased panchayat polls.
"The commission is not ready to put election officials` lives in danger for conducting polls," Pandey said.
The commission has asked the state government to seek more Central paramilitary forces from the Centre for deployment at booths in the Maoist-affected district, officials said.
The commission would finalise new dates for the polls in seven blocks in five districts after the deployment of security forces in Maoist-affected areas.
Bihar police chief Neelmani said after the Maoist violence in Jamui that police will take extra precaution during the tenth and final phase on Wednesday and for the remaining polls.
The 10-phased polls for 262,000 panchayat posts in 37 districts of Bihar will end with vote counting on May 28.
IANS
