62.5 percent voting in 4th phase of panchayat polls in Bihar

Patna: Polling in fourth phase of panchayat polls in Bihar ended with a total turnout of 62.5 percent amid reports of killing of a person in a firing and attack on the vehicle of Madhepura DM and SP.

"The Commission has received reports of 62.5 percent voters turnout in the fourth phase of panchayat polls that passed off peacefully barring some stray incidents," State Election Commissioner (SEC) AK Chauhan told reporters.

Chauhan, who was accompanied by Commission's secretary Dugesh Nandan, said the Commission has received reports of 62.5 percent of voting in fourth phase which is 1.5 per cent more than the fourth phase of panchayat polls in 2011.

The voting per centage may slighty increase once the final figures reach to the Commission, he said.

Chauhan said the vehicle of Madhepura DM and SP was attacked at polling station 76 at Muraut village in Ratwara police station of the district.

The vehicle's windscreen was damaged when a group of rival candidates attacked the vehicle to protest against the arrest of their relatives. Polling was not hampered, the SEC said.

One person was killed in a firing 300 m from polling station 281 in Bhadwas village in Mahua block of Vaishali district, the SEC said adding voting was completed without any disturbance. The reason for firing is being investigated by the police.

A Presiding Officer and a polling officer were arrested for favouring a candidate at polling station 101 in Dihura village of Tekari block of Gaya district, he said.

One policeman died of heart attack at polling station 205 and 206 at Kamti in Kishanganj district, the SEC said adding he was admitted to a nearby primary health centre, but died during treatment.

Chauhan said repolling has been ordered at four polling stations in Alamnagar block of Madhepura, one polling station each in Gorha block of West Champaran and in Mahua block of Vaishali and at two polling stations in Naubatpur block of Patna district.

The repolling was ordered due to printing error in ballot papers.

The SEC repolling has been ordered at 50 polling stations of third phase.

A total of 549 persons were arrested, while 38 vehicles were seized besides, four IED bombs weighing 3 kg each were detected from one km away from Amma Kuan village under Tekari block of Gaya district, Chauhan said.

In the fourth phase, votes were cast to elect 134 members of Zilla Parishad, 1,289 members of Panchayat Samitis, Mukhiyas and Sarpanchs in 939 gram panchayats, 12,859 members of Gram Panchayat and 12,863 members of Gram Kutchery.

The ten phase three-tier panchayat polls are being held to elect 1,161 Zilla Parishad members, 11,496 panchayat samiti members, Mukhiya and Sarpanch in 8,392 gram panchayats, 1,14,733 members in Gram Panchayats and Gram Kutchery.