48 per cent polling in Jamshedpur Lok Sabha bypoll

Jamshedpur, Aug 29 (UNI) An estimated 48 per cent polling was recorded in the byelection to Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat today amidst apprehension of violence by the Maoist rebels.

Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commisioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni said 50-52 per cent polling was reported from the rural areas, where the villagers exercised their franchise defying the naxalite call to boycott the bypoll.

The byelection was necessitated following the assassination of JMM MP Sunil Mahto at Baghuria village on March four.

Mr Kulkarni said polling started on a dull note, but picked up with the progress of the day.

He said no untoward incident was reported from any booth.

No voter turned out at booth no 98 at Mako village under Potka Assembly segment.

He said the turnout was encouraging in the naxal-dominated areas, while it was low at Phuljhore village in Chakulia block and Hathibhinga village in Potka block.

Mr Kulkarni said JMM general secretary Raju Giri was detained in Birsanagar police station for roaming around the polling booths. He was later releasd.

Foolproof security arrangements were made in the wake of the naxalite threats and 40 companies of para-military and 17 companies of Jharkhand armed police forces were deployed in various sensitive and super-sensitive booths.

Three choppers were pressed into action to monitor the movement in the naxlaite areas like Potka, Patamda and Baharagora.

The fate of 12 candidates was decided in today's byelection.

Counting would take place on September two.

UNI