NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Ten killed in poll violence in Bihar

Soroor Ahmed in Patna

Seven armed supporters of an independent candidate and a 60-year old woman were among ten killed in the third and final phase of elections in Bihar on Tuesday.

Unofficial figures, however, put the toll at 14.

Seven people were killed in poll-related violence in Bettiah assembly segment of West Champaran district in Bihar, while a woman died when she was caught in a cross-fire between some miscreants and the police in Gopalganj district.

According to reports reaching Patna, a unit of the District Police Force opened fire in Bettiah when some armed men tried to capture a booth under Mahjaulia police station.

The miscreants, police said, were supporters of independent candidate Shamim Hussain, who belongs to the Raj Kishor gang. Two of those killed were Shamim's brothers - Mohammad Shakir and Mohammad Zakir.

The police recovered over hundred cartridges, one AK-47 automatic, some pistols and several other country-made weapons from the spot.

In Gopalganj, an arrest warrant has been issued against Sadhu Yadav, a Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate and brother of chief minister, Rabri Devi. Yadav had tried to free some of his supporters picked up by police on Monday evening.

Tara Shankar Sahay adds from Delhi: The voter turnout in Bihar was 60 to 65 per cent, Haryana recorded 70 per cent, Orissa 60 per cent and Manipur 72 per cent.

In Madina village in Meham, a polling officer was sacked following negligence of duty and re-polling ordered in nearly 1,500 booths.

Speaking to reporters Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill praised the Bihar police for doing a ''spectacular job'' and described the last phase of elections as ''by and large peaceful.''

Meanwhile, three Manipur Rifles jawans were killed and three injured in an ambush near Manipur.

Assembly Election 2000

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report