Eleven killed in poll violence

Armed with shoot-at-sight orders, Bihar military police shot down seven heavily armed 8220;criminals8221; belonging to the notorious Zakir Hussain gang when they stormed a booth at Majhaulia in Bettiah constituency and attempted to forcibly stamp ballot papers in favour of the gang leader8217;s brother Shamim, an independent candidate for the seat.

Zakir and six of his accomplices were killed on the spot, while three suffered injuries but managed to escape, state Director General of Police K A Jacob said in Patna.

Six people, including a homeguard, were injured in Madhuban constituency of East Champaran district, while a polling officer was shot at and injured by unidentified assailants at a booth in Bhore constituency of Gopalganj district, he added.

JDU block president of Singhwara in Darbhanga district, Ghulam Rasool, was stoned to death by unidentified miscreants when he was returning home after canvassing for NDA candidates in Jale and Keoti Assembly constituencies yesterday.

Incidents of scuffle, clashes and snatching of ballots were also reported from Katihar, Madhepura and Gopalganj constituencies in Bihar where 31 people, including 12 security personnel, were killed during the first two phases of polling for the 324-member Assembly.

In Manipur, three paramilitary personnel were killed and nine others, including three civilians, were injured when militants attacked Manipur State Congress party candidate from Khundrakpam constituency at Ikou Bazaar in east district, 20 km northeast of Imphal, official reports said.

Polling was disrupted at nearby booths in Ikou Bazaar following the exchange of fire.

One militant was also arrested in the morning following a police encounter after the ultras tried to capture a booth in the same district.

Voters came out in large numbers to vote for the remaining 32 seats of the 60-member Assembly after the All Manipur Students Union withdrew its public curfew8217; in the wake of the release of its finance secretary8217; late last night.

Polling in remaining 77 constituencies of the 147-member Assembly in Orissa and all 90 seats in Haryana was by and large peaceful.

In Orissa, about 250 tribals armed with bows and arrows forcibly entered a booth at Sankarada in Ramgiri constituency located at a hilltop and decamped with the polling material. The miscreants are believed to be supporters of Kui Labanga Sangha8217;, an organisation supported by Naxalites.

Polling in Gajapati district bordering Andhra Pradesh, where Naxalites had given a call for poll boycott, was reported to be peaceful.

In Haryana, in an otherwise peaceful polling, a presiding officer of a polling station in Meham constituency was replaced by the Election Commission on grounds of quot;partisan behaviourquot;.

Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill complimented the security forces in Bihar for taking firm action in preventing booth capturing.

Prominent among those whose electoral fortunes were sealed in the ballot boxes today include former Union minister of state for home Mohd Taslimuddin and Bihar People8217;s Party chief Anand Mohan8217;s wife Lovely Anand Bihar, Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, his two predecessors Bansi Lal and Bhajan Lal Haryana, Union minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik and former chief minister and Orissa PCC chief J B Patnaik Orissa.