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Journalism of Courage
Defying call for a poll boycott by Maoists,around 52 per cent of the 98.44 lakh electorate cast their votes in 45 Assembly constituencies in Bihar in the second phase of elections which was marred by stray incidents of violence.
The elections were held in the shadow of the Friday landmine blast in Sheohar district by suspected Maoists in which six policemen were killed. The blast prompted the EC to reduce voting time in Sheohar and Belsand constituencies by two hours.
The election saw a heavy turnout of voters in the two seats,Chief Electoral Officer SK Rakesh said.
Polling ended at 3:00 PM at other Maoist-affected constituencies of Paroo,Minapur and Sahebganj.
Defiance to the poll boycott call was evident as heavy turnout was recorded in all five Maoist-affected seats.
While Paroo recorded 62 per cent voting,Sahebganjregistered 52 per cent,Minapur 53.72 per cent,Sheohar 49 per cent and Belsand 48 per cent.
Maoist posters asking voters to boycott the poll had appeared on government buildings and polling stations in East Champaran,Sheohar,Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur districts.
Security was stepped up by sealing off the border with Nepal with intensified patrolling and air surveillance,Director General of Police Neelmani said.
He said 118 preventive arrests were also made for a smooth conduct of the polling.
A total of 623 candidates,including 46 women,were in fray in the 45 constituencies spread over six districts which are East Champaran,Sheohar,Sitamarhi,Darbhanga,Muzaffarpur and Samastipur.
Stray incidents of violence occurred in Sitamarhi,Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga districts. Heavily-armed Maoists raided a polling centre at Subaigarh in Runisaidpur constituency and burnt down the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) besides other materials early this morning before voting began,SP Rakesh Rathi said.
Presiding officer Baldeo Prasad Yadav,K N Sigh and Satyendra Patel went missing after the incident,Returning Officer for the seat Shivdani Singh said.
Substitute polling materials,including EVMs,and poll personnel were rushed to the booth and voting began as per schedule,Singh said.
