IEDs no deterrent, 55% votes cast in phase-II of Bihar polls

NEW DELHI: Braving presence of improvised explosive devices in Naxal-hit areas, people in Bihar today came out in large numbers to vote in the second phase of assembly elections, where the Election Commission used UAVs to keep an eye on troublemakers.

The Cobra units of the Central Reserve Police Force ( CRPF) defused two IEDs in Gaya where polling was on. While one of them weighed 10 kg, the other 12 kg.

"Despite the presence of IEDs, people came out in large numbers to vote. The incidents did not deter them... it was one of the most peaceful elections in these areas," Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha, who is in charge of Bihar, told reporters here.

The security forces also detected what he described as a "cane bomb" which later turned out to be fake.

Three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and two helicopters were deployed in the six districts of Kaimur, Rohtas, Arwal, Jahanabad, Aurangabad and Gaya to keep an eye on extremists.

"An air ambulance was also kept on standby," said Sinha.

An estimated 55 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in 32 constituencies in Maoist-affected districts of Bihar today in the second phase of assembly elections which passed off peacefully.

Like the first phase on October 12, today's polling also saw more women voters turning out than the menfolk. Their turnout has been estimated at 57.5 per cent.

Today's polling figure is three per cent higher than the 2010 assembly election in the state, Chief Electoral Officer Ajay V Nayak told reporters in Patna.