63 per cent votes cast in 10th phase of Bihar panchayat polls

Patna, May 19: An estimated 63 per cent votes were polled on Wednesday, May 18 in the tenth phase of panchayat elections in 30 blocks of 21 districts in Bihar which passed off peacefully.

There was no untoward incident from anywhere in the state during the polls which were held for 15767 posts with about 30 lakh voters exercising their franchise, Bihar Election Commissioner J K Dutta said.

Polling for the three tier panchayat bodies is being held in 12 phases and results would be declared on May 24.

Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Rajyavardhan Sharma said 358 persons were arrested for poll-related offences, besides Rs 80,937,27 mobile phones, 50 vehicles and five ammunitions seized during preventive actions by securitymen.

A mukhiya candidate from Madhaura panchayat in Saran district was arrested along with cash of Rs 9210 and a mobile phone for trying to disrupt the poll process, he said adding two other mukhiya contestants and a zila parishad woman candidate were also arrested in the district on similar charges.

A mukhiya candidate from Dariyapur panchayat in Munger district was arrested with cash of Rs 10,307, while two others were booked in Siwan district for trying to disrupt polling, the ADG said.

Yet another mukhiya candidate from Naruar panchayat in Madhubani district was arrested on charges of indulging in electoral malpractice and an amount of Rs 33000 was seized from him, Sharma said.

In another incident security forces dispersed a group of miscreants from a polling premises under Mahuama panchyat in Gaya district and restored road traffic on the highway blocked by locals, he said.

A poll official was removed from duty at the booth in Dumra panchayat in Sitamarhi district on charges of deriliction of duty, Sharma said.

In Munger district, the securitymen foiled an attempt to disrupt polling at Kharagpur panchayat by trying to deface ballot papers with ink, he added.

PTI