Sunday, November 13 2005 14:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The Election Commission ordered registration of an FIR against an Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) candidate while a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate was arrested by Border Security Force (BSF) today (Nov 13, 2005) as elections in 57 of the 243 assembly constituencies for the third and penultimate phase in Bihar were underway amidst unprecedented security.

According to reports received at the state election control room here an estimated 20 to 22 per cent of the 1.17crore voters had exercised their franchise by noon.

G Mukti Bodh, BSP candidate for Simri Bakhtiarpur seat in Saharsa district was taken into custody by BSF personnel for moving around with his supporters without permission.

Election Commission special adviser K J Rao, who visited several villages in the riverside areas in Mahishi constituency in the district, ordered registration of an FIR against LJP candidate for the seat Akil Ahmed for moving with his men supporters on motorcycles.

Two motorbikes of his supporters were also seized, sources added.

Polling was cancelled at booth numbers 203 and 204 under Baheri assembly constituency in Darbhanga district as CPMF personnel failed to arrive there on time, sources said

No untoward incidents were reported from anywhere in the constituencies where polling was in progress as the state' borders with West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh have been sealed with Indian Air Force helicopters keeping aerial surveillance and BSF contingents patrolling rivers, state home secretary H C Sirohi told sources.

Long queues of voters were seen before their respective polling stations to exercise their franchise in Bettiah, Saharsa, Madhubani, Sitamarhi and Supaul towns, they said.

Defects in electronic voting machines which were initially reported from several booths in Darbhanga and Saharsa towns as soon as polling began, were soon attended to.