Patna/Ranchi, February 23
Incidents of violence marred the third and final phase of elections in Bihar and Jharkhand. At least 10 persons were killed, said reports. Till last reports came both the states witnessed nearly 35 per cent of polling.Four persons were killed at Raghunathpur in Siwan while making bombs today. A close confidant of the controversial Siwan MP, Vikram Kunwar is an Independent candidate from the constituency.
In another incident, three persons were killed at Gosaitola village in Mokama in Patna district — one in a gun battle with security personnel and two in clashes between rival groups.
Another two persons were reportedly killed in the Hajipur constituency. One person was killed in Muzaffarpur.
Reports of problem came from Biharsharif, Mokama, Maharajganj and Sitamarhi in Bihar.
The Congress candidate from Jharia in Jharkhand was arrested, while the JD (U) candidate from Mashrakh and MP Prabhunath Singh’s brother Kedar Nath Singh was also arrested.
In a gruesome incident, ahead of the third phase, Mao rebels beheaded a man at Giridih for not following their whip. The man, 25-year-old Jeevan Lal Mahto, was killed yesterday at Tigrakala village of Giridih district, 230 km from here, for defying the Maoist poll boycott call even as the state held its third and final round of polling today.
Problems in EVMs were reported from different parts of Bihar and Jharkhand. EVM machines were snatched at Muzaffarpur from election officials.
Similar problems were reported from Nalanda, Danapur, Gaighat and Minapur.
