M A I N   N E W S

5 kids among eight killed in Bihar blast
Chief Minister orders probe

Aurangabad (Bihar), November 21
Eight persons, including five children, were killed and 11 others injured when a bomb planted by the Maoists went off this morning in the Naxal-hit Aurangabad district in Bihar, a day after the final phase of Assembly elections in the state.

The bomb planted by the rebels was found yesterday by a police team, which left it in a field in the absence of a bomb disposal squad.

While seven persons, including five children, were killed on- the-spot, one succumbed to their injuries in a hospital here, the police said.

Superintendent of Police Vivek Raj Singh said the bomb was planted by the Maoists at Pachokhar village during the sixth and final phase of the Assembly elections yesterday. The Maoists had given a call for boycott of the poll.

Security personnel found it and left it in the field for follow-up action to defuse it.

However, when the villagers went to the field this morning, the bomb suddenly exploded, Singh told mediapersons.

Twelve others, who sustained splinter injuries, were admitted to various hospitals in Deo and Aurangabad towns. One of them died later, the police said.

However, the deceased were yet to be identified as angry villagers did not allow the police to approach the field where the incident took place.

The district magistrate and the SP could reach Bedhni, 3 km from the explosion site, and efforts were on to pacify local people, the police said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed Development Commissioner K C Saha and Director General Home Guard US Dutta to jointly probe the incident.

Kumar has also asked Chief Secretary Anoop Mukherjee to ensure adequate compensation to families of the victims. — PTI