Repolling began on Thursday morning in 18 booths in extremism-hit Gaya, Jehanabad and Buxar districts of Bihar from where complaints of electoral malpractices and other problems were reported during the first phase of polling on October 18, state election office sources in Patna said.

Repolling is taking place in seven booths each in Imamgan constituency in Gaya and Makhdumpur in Jehanabad, one booth in Ghosi, also in Jehanabad, and three in Brahmpur constituency in Buxar district, the sources said.     

The repoll was ordered by the Election Commission following complaints of electoral malpractices, including rigging, booth-capturing and defects in Electronic Voting Machines or cancellation of polling in the absence of armed police personnel
in booths.

Five companies of CRPF have been deployed at these polling stations where aerial surveillance was also being maintained by two Indian Air Force choppers, they said.

 Notification issued for 3rd phase