VOTERS' DAY: Women armed with voter's identity cards wait for their turn at a polling booth near Jehanabad during the first phase of elections in Bihar on Tuesday. — PHOTO: PTI

NEW DELHI: An estimated 43 per cent of the 1.23-crore electorate exercised their franchise on Tuesday in the first phase of polling for the 57 Bihar Assembly seats that were up for election. A total of 541 candidates, including 37 women, are in the race.

Briefing reporters here, Deputy Election Commissioner Anand Kumar said polling in the 12 districts was largely peaceful with only one person being killed by security forces. He said 96 persons, including three Rashtriya Janata Dal candidates, were arrested for trying to damage electronic voting machines (EVMs) or attempting booth capturing.

Mr. Kumar said the Bihar Military Police opened fire at the Chorram polling booth in Aurangabad district to prevent looting of the polling station; one person was killed. In the Govindpur Assembly constituency, RJD candidate Sanjay Prabhat was arrested for damaging EVMs, while in the Dev constituency, RJD candidate Suresh Paswan was arrested along with seven others for carrying a rifle and ammunition.

In Jamui, RJD candidate Vijay Prakash Yadav was arrested for moving with people with arms. Mr. Kumar said detailed reports were being sought and action would be taken against them.

Magistrate suspended

A patrolling magistrate was suspended for trying to influence polling in the Shahpur constituency in Bhojpur district. Damage to EVMs was reported from Nawada and Jamui districts. Police opened fire but there was no loss of life. Inter-party clashes were reported from Jamui and Gaya districts. In Jamui, three persons were arrested. In Gaya, Election Commission parties were not sent to four polling stations as it was apprehended that "our parties would be attacked by the naxals." In Jamui, poll parties failed to reach two polling stations. Polling would be held there later.

The poll was boycotted at eight polling stations in five Assembly constituencies for various reasons. A repoll would be ordered wherever necessary after analysing the reports from returning officers and Election Commission observers, said Mr. Kumar. About the action to be taken against two police officers who were transferred on Monday for meeting RJD leader Lalu Prasad, Mr. Kumar said reports had been sought and action would be taken on the basis of the reports.

Asked whether running of special festival trains for Bihar's Chhath festival by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad would violate the model code of conduct, he said a reference was made to the Commission by the Railway Ministry. The Commission had permitted special festival trains as was done last year.

Mr. Kumar said 17,483 EVMs were used for 13,769 polling stations. Digital cameras were used at certain polling booths depending on their sensitivity. A large number of security forces were deployed to ensure free and fair polls.

Proper deployment

Our Special Correspondent reports from Patna:

Bihar Chief Secretary G.S. Kang said repolling would not be needed at more than 20 booths. The election was peaceful and well managed owing to proper deployment of forces, he added. Voting would take place on October 21 in the constituencies where elections could not be held on Tuesday, along with the four constituencies where polls had been deferred.

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