A total of 256 persons, including one Zila Parishad candidate and another village head aspirant besides a presiding officer, were arrested during the 5th phase of panchayat polls in Bihar today.
Ultras who have given a call for boycotting the elections exploded a landmine in which three policemen were injured in Muzaffarpur district yesterday.
Altogether 256 persons including a Zila Parishad candidate and mukhia contestant were arrested from Saran district for allegedly causing disturbances, Director General of Police Neelmani said.
A presiding officer in Araria was arrested for allegedly violating rules, he said. Police also seized unaccounted money to the tune of Rs 1,71,930 from different persons during the polling process.
75 vehicles, one DBBL gun and two cartridges were also seized in Bhojpur district, he said, adding that the polling was by and large peaceful.
An estimated 49 lakh voters in Bihar are eligible to exercise their franchise and decide the fate of 85,403 candidates in 51 blocks spread over 37 districts to elect their representatives in a total of 25,980 panchayats, Zila Parishads and Gram Kutcheries during the fifth phase of the polls.
Election authorities have set up 11,604 polling stations of which eight are located in Maoist-hit areas.
