19 per cent votes cast till 11 AM

PATNA: An estimated 19 per cent of the 81.26 lakh electorate cast their votes till 11 AM in 35 constituencies across eight districts in the fifth and penultimate phase of Assembly elections in Bihar.

The election office here said that EVMs in several booths in Ara, Atri, Arwal, Nawada, Biharsharief, Harnaut, Belaganj and Shekhpur constituencies, developed defects but they were promptly attended to or replaced.

Electors stayed away from voting at some polling stations in Shekhpura, Biharsharief, Arwal, Ara, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya and Rajgir to protest against the state government's alleged apathy towards redressal of their problems, sources said.

Supporters of two rival parties - ruling JD(U) and RJD - clashed in Biharsharief town. No casualty was, however, reported.

Central para-military forces and armed police personnel have been deployed at all polling stations in the Naxal-hit areas as the Maoists have called for a poll boycott, Director General of Police Neelmani said.

Five members of a patrol party, including a magistrate, were injured when their speeding jeep overturned in Arwal Assembly constituency.

A person with five country-made pistols was arrested from Arwal.