Two policemen killed in final phase of Bihar assembly poll

Gaya: Assembly elections in Bihar ended on a violent note when two policemen were killed while defusing a bomb during the sixth and final phase today in the first casualties in the polls in which the overall voter turnout was around 52 per cent.

Counting of votes will be taken up on November 24 after the keenly fought elections spread over a month in the politically crucial state in which development issues appeared to override caste factor.

A Bihar Military Police constable and a homeguard were killed and nine others, including three journalists, injured when the landmine planted by Maoists exploded as a BMP bomb disposal squad attempted to defuse it near Londa village in Gaya district, police sources said.

The Maoists had renewed their poll boycott call for the final phase in which the voter turnout in the remaining 26 seats was an estimated 51 per cent. An average 53 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise in the previous five phases of the polls that commenced on October 21.

The injured were hospitalised with the condition of two stated to be critical, the sources said.

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The elections were marked by a spirited campaign by top leaders of various parties in which Chief Ministers Nitish Kumar, heading a JD(U)-BJP coalition, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi clashed over development issues.

RJD leader Lalu Yadav also campaigned extensively to woo voters in his inimitable style.

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In a House of 243, the ruling parties JD(U) and BJP have 88 and 55 seats respectively. RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP have 54 and 10 respectively. Congress has nine seats in the outgoing house. 122 is the magic mark required for any coalition or party to make a bid to form a government.

A Railway Protection Security Force constable suffered splinter injuries when Maoists detonated a pressure mine while a patrol was crossing a hilly dry rivulet near Barachatti police station area in Gaya district this morning, Director General of Police Neelmani said.

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Securitymen seized dud bombs at three booths in Kasma in Aurangabad district and at Ghatera booth under Guraru police station in Gaya district this morning, Neelmani said.

Maoists exchanged fire with security personnel at Matiawan in Sasaram but no one was killed or injured, he said.

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They also engaged securitymen in Tardih hills under Chenari assembly constituency in Rohtas district but no casualty was reported, Superintendent of Police Vikas Baibhav said.

Neelmani said 35 arrests were made during polling hours.

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Of the constituencies in Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Kaimur and Buxar districts, 18 were declared 'Naxalite-hit' where polling was held between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Altogether 35,000 security personnel and four BSF helicopters were deployed as part of tight security arrangements for today's elections.

The four helicopters, including an MI-17 and a Dhruv, kept air surveillance over Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Buxar and Kaimur districts with Special Task Force commandos aboard.

Prominent among the 426 candidates whose fates were sealed in EVMs were Speaker and JD(U) leader Uday Narayan Choudhary (Imamganj), BJP minister Awadhesh Narayan Singh (Dehri), JD(U) ministers Chhedi Paswan (Mohania) and Anil Kumar (Tekari).

Others were former Union minister and RJD leader Kanti Singh (Chenari), besides senior RJD leaders Shakeel Ahmed Khan (Sherghati), Suresh Paswan (Kutumba) and Iliyas Hussain (Dehri).

In Naxalite-hit constituencies, Bhabhua recorded 51 cent, Chainpur 51 per cent, Chenari 52 per cent, Sasaram 51 per cent, Dinara 46 per cent, Dehri 51 per cent, Karakat 53 per cent, Goh 48 per cent, Navinagar 47 per cent, Kutumba 47 per cent and Rafiganj 51 per cent, election officials said.

Besides, Gurua registered a voter turnout of 50 per cent, Sherghati 47 per cent, Imamganj 40 per cent, Barachatti 42 per cent, Tikari 42 per cent, Nokha 49 per cent and Aurangabad 52 per cent).