Two policemen were killed and nine injured on Friday while defusing a landmine planted by Maoists who had given a poll boycott call during the sixth and last phase of the Bihar assembly elections in 26 seats today with 49 per cent of electors exercising franchise.
A Bihar Military Police constable and homeguard were killed and nine others, including three journalists, injured when the landmine exploded as a BMP bomb disposal squad attempted to defuse it near Londa village in Gaya district, police sources said.
The injured were hospitalised with the condition of two stated to be critical, the sources said. A Railway Protection Security Force constable suffered splinter injuries when Maoists detonated a pressure mine while a patrol was crossing a hilly dry rivulet near Barachatti police station area in Gaya district this morning, Director General of Police Neelmani said.
Securitymen seized dud bombs at three booths in Kasma in Aurangabad district and at Ghatera booth under Guraru police station in Gaya district this morning, Neelmani said.
Maoists exchanged fire with security personnel at Matiawan in Sasaram but no one was killed or injured, he said. Maoists also engaged securitymen in Tardih hills under Chenari assembly constituency in Rohtas district but no casualty was reported, Superintendent of Police Vikas Baibhav said. Neelmani said 35 arrests were made during polling hours.
Of the constituencies in Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Kaimur and Buxar districts, 18 were declared 'Naxalite-hit' where polling was held between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm. Altogether 35,000 security personnel and four BSF helicopters were deployed as part of tight security arrangements for the elections.
The four helicopters, including an MI-17 and a Dhruv, kept air surveillance over Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Buxar and Kaimur districts with Special Task Force commandos aboard.
In Naxalite-hit constituencies, Bhabhua recorded 51 cent, Chainpur 51 per cent, Chenari 52 per cent, Sasaram 51 per cent, Dinara 46 per cent, Dehri 51 per cent, Karakat 53 per cent, Goh 48 per cent, Navinagar 47 per cent, Kutumba 47 per cent and Rafiganj 51 per cent, election officials said.
Besides, Gurua registered a voter turnout of 50 per cent, Sherghati 47 per cent, Imamganj 40 per cent, Barachatti 42 per cent, Tikari 42 per cent, Nokha 49 per cent and Aurangabad 52 per cent.
Seven poll personnel were injured when a tractor-trolley collided with a truck near Chand Behri village in Aurangabad assembly constituency, officials said. In Sherghati assembly constituency in Gaya district, polling was delayed at two booths as poll personnel reached late, official sources said.
In Kaimur district, Lalbahadur Bind, the brother of BJP nominee for Chenari assembly constituency Brijkishore Bind was arrested. Rs 15,000 in cash besides the voter's list were seized from him, official sources said.
The Bomb Disposal Squad defused some bombs planted by Maoists near Pachaukhar in Auragabad district, the sources said.
Meanwhile, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad alleged that the Gaya district magistrate removed EVMs from 12 booths under Imamganj assembly constituency more than an hour before the voting ended at 1500 hrs.
