Tuesday, October 18 2005 18:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: There was around 45 per cent turnout today (Oct 18, 2005) in the first phase of assembly elections in Bihar in 57 constituencies in 12 naxalite-hit districts, which passed off peacefully, by and large, contrary to expectations, barring stray incidents.

A CPI-ML supporter was shot dead, RJD candidates for Deo, Obra and Govindpur were arrested, while workers of rival candidates hurled bombs and exchanged fire at a booth, official sources said.

The day started with the killing of CPI-ML supporter Musafir Paswan at Kashibigha in Warsaliganj constituency in Nawada district, but no major untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

State police chief Ashish Ranjan Sinha, however, denied that Paswan's killing was election-related and said it was the result of personal animosity.

Over 90,000 men and officers of central para-military forces and Bihar police stood guard at 13,338 polling stations as IAF choppers patrolled the skies against trouble since naxalites had called a boycott of the elections, being held for the second time this year.

Suresh Paswan, a minister in the erstwhile Rabri Devi government and candidate for Deo, Satyanarain Singh Yadav and Sanjay Prabhat, RJD nominees for Obra and Govindpur seats, were arrested for going around with weapons in violation of prohibitory orders, smashing EVMs and intimidating voters.

The state authorities also cracked down on poll officials suspending five election party members, including a presiding officer, and six policemen on the charge of dereliction of duty.

State Home Secretary H C Sirohi told sources that two district armed police personnel, as many home guards and a havaldaar were suspended for failing to prevent an attack on the presiding officer of booth no.21 at Sanpurha in Chakai constituency by booth-grabbers.

A presiding officer and four other poll personnel were suspended for fighting over chairs at booth no. 103 and 104 in Sahar constituency.

The police guard of RJD candidate for the Govindpur seat Sanjay Prabhat was also suspended for firing at Rupo village in the constituency to intimidate voters and securitymen.

The sources said booth capturing led to cancellation of polling at two booths in Nawada constituency, while it was deferred for October 21 at four polling stations in Imamganj constituency in Gaya district due to non-availability of security.

Reports of clashes between supporters of rival candidates were received from several places including Shahpur, Chakai and Nawada constituencies. Henchmen of candidates hurled bombs and exchanged fire at Kamalpur in Nawada constituency but none was hurt, while five persons were reported wounded in Shahpur. Election Commission's Special Adviser K J Rao, toured several places in Gaya and Nawada districts after receiving information on electoral malpractices.

Prominent among those whose fates were sealed in EVMs include ministers in the erstwhile Rabri Devi cabinet, Shivanand Tiwari (Shahpur), Shyam Rajak (Phulwarisharif), Jagdanand Singh (Ramgarh), Mahabali Singh (Chainpur), Illiyas Hussain (Dehri), Raghvendra Pratap Singh (Barahra) and Shakeel Ahmed Khan (Gurua).