Seventh phase Panchayat elections take a life in Bihar

Patna, Jun 2 (UNI) One person was killed and 11 people including five policemen, were injured in violence during the seventh phase of Bihar's Panchayat election today, official sources said.

Sources said an estimated 60 per cent voters turned out to exercise their franchise.

State Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Anil Kumar Sinha, however, claimed that the election passed off peacefully.

He told newspersons here that 902 people, 177 alone in Banka district, were arrested from different places of the state on charges of disturbing poll process.

He said 12 firearms including an AK 47 and 51 cartridges were recovered during raids. An AK 47 rifle was recovered from an anti-social from Hathidah in Patna district.

A Bhagalpur report, quoting police as saying, said a youth was killed when a Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) used batons to control an unruly mob during the election at Kodwar village under Kahalgaon block in Bhagalpur district.

Official sources said the victim identified as Mukesh Mandal was going to a booth at Kodwar village to cast his vote when the SAP jawan caught hold of him and beat him up mercilessly leading to his death on the sopt.

A Bhabhua report, quoting District Magistrate Anwar Alam Manjar as saying, said an unruly mob opened fire on a police vehicle at Ahinor village under Mohania block area in Kaimur district, injuring five police personnel including officer-in-charge of Ramgarh police station. The injured had been admitted to a local hospital.

He said six people sustained injuries in group clashes at Katrakala village under Mohania block in Kaimur district during the polling.

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