Chapra, May 31
Barring stray incidents of clashes and shootouts in which eight persons were injured, the repoll in the Chapra Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar today passed off peacefully with an estimated 40 per cent voter turnout. RJD candidate and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav locked horns with BJP nominee Rajiv Pratap Rudy, on whose complaint the Election Commission had ordered the repoll after its two-member team confirmed large-scale electoral malpractices during the April 26 polling.
District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer B. Pradhan told PTI that four persons were injured in a clash between supporters of rival candidates at a booth at Marhaura.
Two persons suffered gunshot injuries in an exchange of fire between supporters of the RJD and the BJP at Gopalpur Tola.
In Dahiyawan area, two persons were attacked and injured by RJD men, he said.
Some clashes and explosions also took place at a few booths under Sonepur and Marhaura segments but no one was injured, Mr Pradhan said.
Police Superintendent Ajit Joy said around 75 persons were arrested for creating disturbances during the repoll.
Mr Joy said he had ordered the arrest of the Chairman of the Bihar State Cooperative Marketing Union and RJD leader Sunil Singh following complaints of intimidation of voters.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Marhaura Jagdish Chaudhary was barred from performing election duty midway on the directive of the Election Commission. He was charged with indulging in electoral malpractice to favour a candidate.
A lack of enthusiasm was visible among the voters resulting in poor turnout.
Mr Rudy said he was satisfied with the arrangements made by the district administration and the commission for fair and free repoll in Chapra. —
PTI
