Firing mars bypolls in Bihar and Jharkhand

Firing mars bypolls in Bihar and Jharkhand
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Patna, Feb 19: Police firing to foil attempts at booth-grabbing and tearing of ballot papers marred by-polls in Bihar's Asthawan and Jharkhand's Ramgarh assembly constituencies, while polling in Tripura's Kadamtala assembly by-poll was totally peaceful.

An average 60 per cent polling was recorded in the three constituencies.

Stray incidents of firing and tearing of ballot papers marked polling in Bihar's Asthawan assembly constituency where all polling booths were declared sensitive by the Election Commission. An estimated 50 to 55 per cent of voters cast their ballots.

In Ramgarh, the police fired four rounds in the air to chase away suspected supporters of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha who stormed booth no 64 at Kanke Badh village and snatched ballot papers from the presiding officers.

Jharkhand director-general of police T P Sinha said that when the police intervened, the JMM supporters pelted stones at them, injuring one CRPF jawan. The police then fired four rounds in the air and chased them away, Sinha said. The polling was disrupted for an hour.

Bihar DGP R R Prasad said suspected RJD supporters tore around 50 ballot papers at booth nos 71-72 at Nehruth village in the constituency leading to disruption in polling for about half an hour in the morning.

He said anti-socials fired 25 to 30 rounds at booth no.162 at Mohni village in a bid to grab the booth but timely intervention by the police foiled their attempt.

Prasad said a police party led by a Deputy Police superintendent, S C Jha, returned the fire and succeeded in chasing away the anti-socials.

The Asthawan bypoll will decide the fate of 18 contestants including Satish Kumar (Samata), Kumar Pushpanjay (RJD) and Arun Kumar Singh (Lok Janshakti).

According to Jharkhand election department officials, the percentage of polling in the Ramgarh constituency was between 55 and 60 per cent. Seven contestants are in fray.

The by-poll for Kadamtala assembly constituency in Tripura was peaceful.

According to sources in the state election department, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. Altogether six candidates are contesting there.

Sixty-five per cent of the electorate cast their ballots.