Moderate turnout in Koderma, Nalanda and Bhagalpur bypolls

Patna/Ranchi, Nov 6 (UNI) Defying a blast and some sporadic incidents, about 57 per cent electorate exercised their franchise in the byelection to Koderma Lok Sabha seat in Jharkhand, while an estimated 35 per cent turnout was recorded in an incident-free polling in Bihar's Nalanda and Bhagalpur Parliamentary constituencies today.

Reports from Giridih under Koderma said a bomb exploded at Chelliah school near a booth, injuring a person and added that about 100 cartridges were recovered from Bengabad.

EVMs was snatched from booth number 128, where repolling would be held.

Extra care was now being taken to transport the EVMs to strong room at Giridih as Hazaribagh-Giridih route is considered the most naxalite-dominated patch.

Another report said polling could not begin at Ramnadih under Jainagar in the district as the EVMs did not function. However, after three hours the process resumed as EVMs were replaced.

Earlier, BJP MLA from Bermo Yogendra Prasad Batul was arrested at Chanwara for moving in his car without any valid pass.

Besides, another BJP activist Baidyanath Pandey was detained for creating nuisance though he was released later.

Some group clashes between the CPI(ML) and Jharkhand Vikash Morcha were reported from some pockets.

IAF helicopters since yesterday had been hovering to check infiltration from bordering districts.

The bypoll, which promised a fierce contest among the UPA, BJP, JVM and 11 other Independent candidates, was being termed as a ''litmus test'' to determine the future of Jharkhand politics.

Official sources from Nalanda and Bhagalpur said no untoward incident was reported.

However, at some polling booths in Bhagalpur constituency, the voters boycotted the elections in protest against the alleged non-development of their areas.

About 200 people were detained for trying to disturb the polls during the day.

Bhagalpur District Magistrate Vipin Kumar said orders had been issued to lodge FIRs against 22 polling personnel for not reporting to their election duties.

The fate of 13 candidates in Bhagalpur and eight candidates in Nalanda would be decided in today's bypoll.

UNI TEAM SJC DB1959