M A I N   N E W S

22 die in Bihar poll violence

PATNA, Feb 12 (UNI, PTI) — The first phase of election to the Bihar Assembly claimed 22 lives, mostly security personnel, even as an estimated 60 per cent of the 20.2 million electorate exercised their democratic rights in 108 constituencies today.

Official sources here said polling percentage, which was slow in the beginning in most parts of the mofussil constituencies, picked up and was estimated at 55 to 60 per cent.

The sources said the hyper-sensitive south region bore the brunt of violence. Eight persons, including six CRPF jawans and a polling magistrate, were killed at Kaimur district, while three persons, including two security personnel, lost their lives at Chandwa in Hazaribagh district in landmine blasts.

MCC militants blew up the vehicle of security personnel in an area under Ranka police station at Garwa district killing three BSF jawans on the spot.

Two persons, including a jawan, also lost their lives in road accidents in Ranchi, while three persons, including a policeman, was killed in landmine explosion in Palamau district. Two persons were also killed and three BSF jawans injured in landmine explosions at Giridih district.

State government helicopters had already evacuated two seriously injured BSF jawans to the capital town for treatment, while two more helicopters of the Army were stationed at Daltonganj for evacuating other seriously injured persons to Ranchi for treatment.

Bihar Peoples Party (BPP) candidate from Atri Assembly segment Virendra Singh was injured when some miscreants sprayed bullets in Gaya district while a vehicle of an independent candidate from Bhavnathpur constituency was torched by the militants.

National Democratic alliance leaders and union ministers Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar escaped unhurt when some rival political activists attacked their campaign helicopter at Rupauli on Madhepura-Purnia border.

The sources also stated that 160 trouble-makers were arrested from here, while 31 from Giridih, 14 from Bokaro, one from Dhanbad, 64 from Jamshedpur and 50 from Ranchi.

However, the sources said besides landmine blasts in the extremist-dominated south Bihar, no untoward incident had been reported from anywhere in the state, and the polling was by and large peaceful.

State chief electoral officer A.K. Basu said the turnout was lower following inclement weather. More than 50 per cent polling was recorded from the sensitive Danapur segment, from which RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav is contesting.

According to Patna District Magistrate Gautam Goswami polling in four booths in the district was suspended as some anti-social elements snatched away ballot papers from two polling stations of Bikram segment and one booth each in Patna (East) and Masauri constituencies.

A report from Gaya said voters boycotted polling in three booths under the Konch assembly segment, while an encounter between central forces and militants took place in Dumri area. However, no one was injured. Reports of ballot-paper snatching and group clash also poured in from Garua and Atri Assembly seats in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Nidhi Khare said repolling would be held at one booth in Biresanagar.

State Home Secretary U.N. Panjiyar told newspersons here that the incidents of landmine blasts was much less than apprehended. In the 1999 Lok Sabha poll for the first phase of 19 constituencies in south-

central Bihar, 41 persons including 29 security personnel, were killed in landmine blasts in Naxalite-infested areas.

A report from Ranchi said barring stray incidents of rigging polling passed off peacefully in the nine Assembly constituencies of Ranchi district with 50 to 55 per cent voters exercising their franchise.

According to official sources here, stray incidents of rigging attempts was reported from Ratu road and Hindpiri areas of the town.

Elaborate security arrangements were made for the polling though in a few polling stations, no policemen were visible.In some areas of Ranchi ‘‘peaceful grabbing of booth’’ was also reported.

Eight security personnel, including the driver of the truck carrying them, were killed when PWG ultras waylaid their vehicle and detonated a landmine at Jharia village in Kaimur district late last night.

A BSF sub-inspector and a jawan were blown up when PWG ultras triggered a landmine blast at Tati Jharia village in Hazaribagh district this morning.

Two persons were killed in separate incidents of clashes between supporters of rival parties at Hisua and Bishnupur constituencies in Nawada district.

In another landmine blast, four Gram Raksha Dal volunteers were injured at Manika in Palamu.

Landmine blasts were also reported from Gaya and Aurangabad districts but there were no casualties.

According to Mr A.K. Basu, recommendations for a repoll from district election officers were being scrutinised.

A report from Gaya said heavy rain, which lashed the district last night, had paralysed the electoral process to some extent with polling parties failing to reach their destinations in more than 12 sensitive polling stations.

More than 450 companies of the central paramilitary forces had been deployed along with several companies of the Bihar Military Police, 75,000 district armed force and 30,000 homeguards to man the booths.

Director General of police K.A. Jacob said sniffer dogs had been pressed into service in the extremist belt to detect landmines. Besides, the sensitive areas of Palamau, Hazaribagh, Chatra, Gaya, Jehanabad and Rohtas districts had been cordoned off by the central forces to thwart Naxalite activities.

The Election Commission had constituted a standing committee comprising state electoral officer A.K. Basu, state Director General of Police K.A. Jacob and officers of the central forces to coordinate the security arrangements in the extremist belt.

The health services in the state had been put on alert.

For the first time, the Election Commission did not deploy local poll personnel in polling stations, falling under these extremist-dominated areas. Additional Police Superintendents have been posted to monitor security measures on the ground.

The National Democratic Alliance, which had a trying time to reach a consensus on seat-sharing, finally struck a concord among its constituents. While the BJP is contesting 69 seats, the Samata Party is in the fray in 23, JD(U) in 11 and BPP in five in the first phase.

NEW DELHI: The Samata Party has demanded repolling in 86 booths spread over four assembly constituencies of Bihar alleging booth-capturing by RJD supporters.

The Samata Party has sought repolling in 22 booths in Masaudhi, 11 in Obra, 15 in Ghosi and 38 polling stations in Gaya (rural) following reports of booth capturing by the RJD supporters, party president Jaya Jaitly told reporters here.

She said complaints had been sent to the Chief Election Commissioner as well as the state chief electoral officer.

Meanwhile, terming the first phase of polling as the “most difficult of the three phase polling” in Bihar, Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill told reporters that efforts had been made by the central paramilitary forces and the state police for a peaceful polling in the state.

Six killed in Manipur; 72 pc cast vote

IMPHAL, Feb 12 (PTI, UNI) — Armed militants killed six persons and wounded 10 others amid large-scale rigging and booth capturing in Manipur where 72 per cent turnout was reported for the first phase polling for 27 assembly seats today.

Repolling will be held in at least in 65 booths since ballot boxes from these booths were snatched away, damaged and polling personnel kidnapped, officials said.

Official sources said when armed militants attacked a BJP candidate, Mr Thang Kholus, an encounter followed with his securitymen killing two Manipur Rifles jawans and injuring four others in the Saji Tampak area in Chandel district. In the crossfire three civilians were killed. The candidate escaped unhurt.

Armed militants attacked a polling booth at Khopipung in Churachandpur district killing one BSF jawan, injuring three BSF personnel, two home guards and one civilian, sources said.

Another BJP candidate was attacked and his security guards overpowered by militants who took away 15 arms and 800 rounds of ammunition at Andro in Imphal East district. This area is going to poll on February 22.

State Chief Electoral Officer D. S. Poonia said large-scale rigging, snatching of ballot papers and forcing polling personnel to allow workers to cast votes in favour of some particular candidates were reported from Henglep and Saikul Assembly constituencies in Churachandpur district and the Sadar Hills area of Senapati district.

He said more than 70 per cent polling was reported in Naga-majority districts defying a poll boycott call by the NSCN (I-M) while about 50 to 55 per cent polling was reported from Kuki-dominated and other valley areas.

Mr Poonia said repolling might be necessary in at least 63 polling stations mostly in Henglep and Singhat Assembly constituencies in Churachandpur district and Saikul in Senapati district.

Elections were held in five hill districts — Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel, Senapati, Churachandpur — parts of Thoubal valley district and Jiribam Assembly constituency in Imphal east district.

Altogether 199 candidates were in the fray for the first phase elections with notable candidates being former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing, senior Congress leader Thoudam Devendra Singh, former state Congress unit chief Phungzathang Tonsing and state Medical Minister V Hangkhalian.

Polling has been adjourned in Tipamimukh Assembly constituency in Churachandpur district following killing of a Janata Dal (U) candidate last week.

The second phase of polling for 32 Assembly seats would be held on February 22.

DD exit poll gives NDA edge in Bihar

NEW DELHI, Feb 12 (PTI) — A Doordarshan exit poll tonight forecasts that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would bag 65 of the 108 seats which went to polls in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections held today.

The exit poll conducted by DRS predicts 13 seats for Laloo Prasad Yadav’s RJD and its allies, JD(S) and CPM, 15 for the Congress and 15 for others.

The poll based on a sample survey of 3500 voters in 30 Assembly constituencies showed a nine per cent swing against the NDA, 18 per cent against the RJD and allies, a six per cent swing in favour of the Congress and 27 per cent for “others” as compared to the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, an exit poll conducted by Jain TV predicted that the BJP and its allies would bag 68 seats as against 18 for the RJD and allies, eight for the Congress and 14 for others.