Two persons were killed and 1053 people were arrested on Thursday during the 8th phase of the panchayat elections in Bihar, which witnessed 62 per cent polling.
Additional Director General of Police Rajbardhan Sharma told reporters here that the death occurred in an exchange of fire between two rival groups at Turk Telka village in Arwal district.
A havildar, identified as Kishori Das, died of cardiac arrest at Tajpur in Samastipur district during the poll.
Police opened fire to quell crowds at Aurangabad, Naugachia and Nawada for trying to disturb polling during the day. None was, however, injured. There were reports of clashes from a few more places but police soon controlled the situation.
Mr. Sharma said the 1053 persons, including four mukhiya and zila parishad candidates, were arrested for ensuring free and peaceful polling. Police seized 177 vehicles, Rs. 29,200 in cash, and 16 mobile phone sets from different places, besides six firearms, 79 cartridges, two bombs and 5 detonators from different places in Bhojpur, Gaya and Nawada districts.
Election to 26,642 posts of gram panchayat mukhiyas, members, gram kutchery sarpanchs, panchas, panchayat samiti member, and board members were held during the day.
Polling was held at 12090 polling stations to decide the fate of 86899 candidates spread over 58 blocks in 34 districts. Around 50 lakh voters were eligible for the polling, official sources said.
