Thaindian News

Patna, April 20 (IANS) Voting in the first phase of Bihar panchayat polls began Wednesday morning but the generally peaceful exercise was marred by a bomb blast and some sporadic incidents of violence, officials said.

“Nearly 27 percent of the electorate had cast their votes by 11.30 a.m.,” an official said.

According to the police, there were reports of a bomb explosion in Nawada district and of clashes between rival groups in over a dozen places in the state.

“Police have arrested over 100 people for disrupting polls,” a police officer said.

The polling began at 7 a.m. People were seen queuing up at polling booths despite a boycott call by Maoists.

Security forces, including the central paramilitary forces, have been deployed at polling stations to ensure free and fair polls.

“Strict action would be taken against those found trying to either disrupt the polling process or attempting to undermine the sanctity of the democratic exercise,” Bihar Police chief Neelmani said.

The state administration has sealed the India-Nepal border and deployed security forces at all vulnerable points.

Voting is taking place in 57 blocks of 37 districts in the first phase of elections to a total of 28,639 village council posts. There are 1.43 lakh candidates in the fray.

Nearly 2.75 lakh ‘troublemakers and habitual offenders’ have signed bonds promising not to disrupt the polling process, a police officer said. Last week, the state Election Commission made it clear that if any candidate is attacked or intimidated, his rival will be named in the police report.

Elections in Bihar were once known for violence and booth capturing. In the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, 74 people were killed in poll-related violence. About 20 people were killed in the 2004 general elections and 158 during the 2001 panchayat elections.

The 10-phase polls for 262,000 panchayat posts would end May 28.