E-Paper
Polling comes to an end in Chapra; 40 pc turnout
Barring stray incidents of violence in which eight persons sustained injuries, the repoll in the Bihar LS constituency passed off peacefully.
Barring stray incidents of clashes and shoot-outs in which eight persons sustained injuries, the repoll in the Chapra Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar on Monday passed off peacefully with an estimated 40 per cent voter turnout.
RJD candidate and Railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav locked horns with BJP nominee Rajiv Pratap Rudy, on whose complaint the Election Commission ordered repoll in the entire constituency after its two-member team confirmed large-scale electoral fraud during April 26 poll.
District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer B Pradhan said that four persons were injured in a clash between supporters of rival candidates at booth number 41 at Marhaura. The injured were admitted to the Sadar hospital.
Two others suffered gun-shot injury in an exchange of fire between supporters of RJD and BJP at Gopalpur Tola under Nayagaon police station in the constituency. One of the injured was rushed to the Patna Medical College and Hospital for treatment, Pradhan said.
In a separate clash, two persons sustained head-injuries when RJD men attacked them at Dahiyawan in the constituency, he said.
Incidents of clashes and explosions were also reported from a few booths under Sonepur and Marhaura assembly segments in Chapra, Pradhan said adding nobody was injured.
Police superintendent Ajit Joy said around 75 persons were arrested for creating disturbances during the repoll.
Joy said he had ordered arrest of the Chairman of the Bihar State Cooperative Marketing Union (Biscomaun) and RJD leader Sunil Singh following complaints of intimidation of voters.
Meanwhile, the sub-divisional police officer of Marhaura Jagdish Chaudhary was barred from performing election duty midway through repolling on the directive of the Election Commission on the charge of indulging in electoral malpractice to favour a candidate.
A lack of enthusiasm was visible among the voters resulting in poor turnout.
BJP candidate Rajiv Pratap Rudy said he was satisfied with the arrangements made by the district administration and the Commission for fair and free repoll in Chapra.
