Landmine blast mars phase II polls in Bihar

Maoists triggered a landmine blast targeting a CRPF patrol as poll boycott was reported from several places in the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar where the second phase elections registered an estimated 43 to 45 per cent voter turnout.

A CRPF patrol had a narrow escape when CPI (Maoist) rebels detonated a landmine on Bakhri-Bhitiharwa road in East Champaran district, state Principal Secretary (Home) Afzal Amanullah told reporters here.

No casualties were reported as the blast occurred seconds before the security personnel were about to cross the road in the stretch where the explosive was planted, but the vehicle was damaged, he said.

SP, Muzaffarpur, Sudhanshu Kumar said he had ordered arrest of ruling JD(U) candidate for Vaishali, Munna Shukla, on the charge of smashing an EVM at booth number 218 at Paroo.

Voting was held in Valmikinagar, West Champaran, East Champaran, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Hajipur, Vaishali, Jhanjharpur, Samastipur, Ujiarpur and Darbhanga Parliamentary constituencies.

Initially, some technical fault in EVMs were detected at some polling centres in Sitamarhi, Valmikinagar, East Champaran and Darbhanga Lok Sabha seats, but they were either repaired or replaced immediately. There were reports of voters boycotting the poll in over 25 booths on local issues.