The second phase of panchayat polls is being held today in Bihar at 12,559 polling stations under tight security even as there were reports of stray incidents of poll-related violence and electoral malpractices, official sources said.
The voting at polling station number 75 in Viman panchayat of Ariyari block in Bihar’s Sheikhpura district was cancelled by the district administration amid complaint from the people alleging shortage of ballot papers, sources said.
The angry locals threw stones on two government vehicles injuring a Sub-Divisonal Officer (SDO) Manjoor Ali even as other senior officials had to face the fury of the agitators, they said.
A report from Nawada district said that four persons were arrested from different places in Akbarpur block on the charges of indulging in electoral malpractices by distributing money among the voters.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) Manoj Kumar Raj said that Zila Parishad chairperson Nitu Kumari was arrested with a cash of Rs 36,500 from Kula Panchayat and a vehicle without number plate in her cavalcade was seized.
She was trying to influence the voters by giving them money, he said, adding that three other people were arrested along with a cash of Rs 4,000 by Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ravish Kumar.
A report from Sheohar district said that about 50-60 supporters of a candidate stormed into polling station number 95 and 96 in Shankarpur Binhi village in Shankarpur Binhi panchayat under Parahi block and tried to capture the twin booths by firing in the air, police sources said.
The District Magistrate Jai Mangal Singh and Superintendent of Police (SP) PK Sinha have rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control, the sources said, adding raids were being carried out to arrest the miscreants.
As many as 94,776 candidates are in fray for 27,905 panchayat posts under 57 blocks spread over 37 districts, the sources said, adding a total number of 5.28 lakh voters will exercise their franchise to elect representatives in the second phase of the polling.
