New Delhi: One person was killed and some electronic voting machines (EVMs) damaged in stray violence on February 26 as an estimated 62 per cent of the 8.31 million voters exercised their franchise amidst tight security for new legislatures in Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

Activists of rival parties clashed at Changtongia town of Nagaland's Mokokchung district, home to Chief Minister S C Jamir, leaving one person dead.

Suspected militants also fired in the air to scare away voters in the same town.

Unidentified persons damaged EVMs at a number of polling stations in Mokokchung, Wokha and Tuensang districts of the state. Re-polling is likely in at least five polling stations.

Polling in rest of Nagaland was smooth and peaceful with an estimated turnout of 60 to 70 per cent of the over one million electorate.

Though there are seven national and three regional political parties in fray, the main battle for the 60-member Assembly is confined between ruling Congress and newly formed Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) with Nagaland People's Front (NPF) and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) being two of its major constituents.

Ten polling station in Twensang district registered cent per cent turnout while urban areas reported an average of 50 per cent.

Nearly 60 per cent turnout was recorded across Meghalaya where polling was peaceful barring one incident of EVM snatching at a polling booth in the Jayantia hills.

PTI