Second phase: 55% voting, nine deaths

PATNA, FEB 22: At least 55 per cent of the 20.5 crore electorate exercised their franchise in 183 constituencies in nine states and union te...

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PATNA, FEB 22: At least 55 per cent of the 20.5 crore electorate exercised their franchise in 183 constituencies in nine states and union territory of Pondhichery. And though Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill described today’s polling as “more satisfactory” than in the first phase on February 16, at least nine persons were killed and scores others injured as incidents of bomb blasts, shoot-outs, looting of ballots and ballot boxes as well as booth-capturing.

The highest turnout of 70 per cent was recorded in West Bengal and lowest of 45 per cent in Tamil Nadu. Andhra Pradesh registered 60 per cent, Bihar 55 per cent, Karnataka 58 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 50 per cent, Maharashtra 50 per cent, Orissa 55 per cent, UP 55 Per cent and Pondicherry 62 per cent.

At least seven deaths were reported from Bihar and one each in Koraput in Orissa and Murshidabad in West Bengal. In Bihar, acting on a clear and strict directive of the Election Commission in the aftermath of widespread violence and rigging ofelections in the first phase, the authorities this time clamped down on political leaders creating disturbances, detaining three Bihar ministers and a ruling RJD MLA.

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While three persons, including a booth-grabber, were killed at Runni Saidpur in Sitamarhi, a CPI (ML) leader was shot dead at Dhanarua in Barh, a booth-grabber was beaten to death at Chak Kasturi village in Hajipur, one at Salakhuadih in Saharsa and one at Yadavpur in Motihari constituency.A series of bomb explosions ripped through Hajipur where the railway minister Ramvilas Paswan, is in fray, resulting in shrapnel injuries to 15 persons, official sources said.

Exchange of fire, snatching of ballots and ballot boxes, and intimidation of voters, were reported from several places including Hajipur, Vaishali, Siwan, Motihari, Maharajgunj, Barh, Chapra, Darbhanga, Jhanjharpur and Muzafferpur. Two booth-grabbers were injured in police firing at Siswar village in Jhanjharpur constituency, three in exchange of fire between supporters of rivalparties at Goriakothi in Siwan, two at Banipur in Maharajgunj and one at Bhagwanpur in Muzafferpur.

According to the chief electoral officer A K Basu, Bihar Energy minister, Brijbihari Prasad, was kept under house arrest at Motihari, while the minister of state for welfare, Sita Sinha, and the ruling RJD MLA, Bhikhar Baitha, were detained at Samastipur.