Two security personnel killed, 58.12 % pollig in final phase of J'khand polls

Altogether two security personnel were killed and other two injured in two separate incidents of landmines blast triggered by the Maoists in Jharkhand's Palamu and West Singhbhum district during the fifth and final phase of assembly elections on Friday.

Altogether two security personnel were killed and other two injured in two separate incidents of landmines blast triggered by the Maoists in Jharkhand's Palamu and West Singhbhum district during the fifth and final phase of assembly elections on Friday.

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An average 58.12 percent of voters' turnout was reported from the 16 Maoists-infested constituencies that went to the poling on Friday.

"Highest voters turnout (63 per cent) was recorded in two constituencies- Bhavanathpur and Barkatha, while the lowest took place at Chattarpur with 48 percent," Joint Chief Election Officer Ashok Kumar Sinha told Hindustan Times.

The Maoists, who had already given call for poll boycott triggered a landmine blast near Maahur village in Palamu's Hussainabad constituency, about 300 km northwest from the state capital, killing one policeman of Jharkhand Armed Police-6 (JAP-6) and injuring two others including a village chowkidar, the CRPF Commandant B K Sharma told Hindustan Times over phone.

Sharma said, the JAP havildar Satyendra Singh (36), who was grievously injured in the explosion, was rushed to a hospital at Mohammadganj (in Palamu district) where he died of his injuries four hours later.

The chowkidar Chiri Paswan and other constable, whose name could not be known immediately, also suffered injuries in the blast, were airlifted to Ranchi. Both injured persons were later admitted at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi.

"Havildar Satyendra was escorting a polling party towards booth no- 157 situated at Maahur village middle school in Hussainabad constituency around 6.30 am when the Maoists triggered a series of three landmines blast simultaneously," Sharma said.

Sharma, who visited the spot soon after the blast, also informed that the JAP constables were marching on foot towards Maahur village when the landmines were exploded. Had the security personnel been on vehicle, the number of casualty would have been more, Sharma said.

A security personnel of the CRPF was killed in the blast at Titlighat in Saranda Forest under Jagannathpur assembly constituency in West Singhbhum district, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Manoj Kumar Mishra said. The landmines blast at Titlighat was triggered in afternoon.

The Maoists also blew up a 15-foot road bridge at Sahiyyar village in Hussainabad assembly constituency. In another incident, the security forces recovered 40 kg IED near booth number 102 under Chatra assembly constituency, police said. The explosive was recovered during a search operation.

In the final phase, altogether 290 candidates were in the fray from 16 constituencies -- Chatra, Latehar, Simaria, Panki, Bishrampur, Hussainabad, Chhatarpur, Garhwa, Bhawnathpur, Manika, Chaibasa, Barkatha, Jagannathpur, Sareikella, Kharsawan and Daltonganj.

With polling in these 16 seats, elections in all 81 constituencies of Jharkhand assembly were completed on Friday. Counting of votes will be held on December 23.

Talking to media, the State's Chief Electoral Officer Debasish Gupta said barring the two incidents of landmines blast, the day passed off peacefully, like the previous four phases.

In all 1,489 candidates, included several former ministers and legislators, were in the fray for 81 seats.

(With agency inputs)