Magistrate killed in blast

External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha escaped unhurt when his car was stoned by miscreants on Hazaribagh-Bishnu Garh Road. Miscreants hurled stones at Sinha’s car at Silvwa Pahar. The windowpanes were shattered but Sinha escaped.

Despite the bandh and poll boycott call from Naxalites, over 50 per cent voters exercised their franchise in six constituencies. A patrolling magistrate was killed and seven people, including four policemen, were injured in violence in Dhanbad and Giridih districts. Ajay Kumar, a doctor at Patliputra Medical College deputed as patrolling magistrate, was killed when extremists set off a landmine and opened fire near the booth in Dhanbad. In neighbouring Chatra, there was exchange of fire between MCC ultras and police in which one ultra and a CRPF havaldar was injured, police said. MCC ultras also drove away polling officials from Khipatohar, Ladih and Hariduru booths.