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Journalism of Courage
The third and final phase of elections in Bihar was by and large peaceful, marred only by three deaths in the 93 constituencies. The turnout was recorded between 45 and 50 per cent. 8216;8216;Everything was smooth,8217;8217; said K.J. Rao, special observer for the Election Commission.
A booth grabber was killed when BSF opened fire outside a booth in Gosaitola village under Mokama constituency. Another person was killed in Lalganj constituency of Vaishali district when a bomb exploded in a house. The third death, in a group clash, was reported from Paru in Muzaffarpur district. Chief Secretary K.A.H. Subramanian, however, refused to acknowledge the last two deaths as election related and termed the final phase as 8216;8216;very peaceful8217;8217;.
Altogether, 11 deaths were reported in the three phases, against the 48 lives lost in the last Assembly elections in 2000. However, 283 persons were arrested from various constituencies for indulging in poll violence and other election malpractices.
There were also reports of clashes from Muzzarfarpur, Saran and Bettiah. Violence and clashes were reported from Laljung, Muzzafarnagar, Patna and Saharanpur.
At least 225 incidents of EVMs being broken or developing a technical snag were recorded, resulting in cancellation of polls at these booths. For the first time in many years, the turnout in Siwan was considerable. The EC advisor personally kept a watch over the sensitive areas on a chopper.
Over 50 pc polling at Punjab, Meghalaya
NEW DELHI: Spokesperson of EC A.N. Jha said in Punjab, bypolls to Ajnala constituency recorded nearly 65 per cent polling. The by-elections to three constituencies in Meghalaya recorded nearly 50-65 per cent turnout and repoll in six booths recorded nearly 77 to 87 per cent polling. 8212;ENS
