Jawan killed in Naxal violence in second phase

RANCHI: A CISF jawan was killed and several others injured in the second phase of polling in 14 Assembly constituencies of Jharkhand on Wednesday. Voter turnout was 54%. The jawan, Harpal Singh, was killed in a landmine blast triggered by suspected CPI-Maoists at Pirtand in Giridih district. The blast was triggered when security personnel were patrolling the area while polling was on, a police official said. Maoists also blew up a culvert at Matiobera. Polling in other parts of the state was peaceful.

State joint chief electoral officer A K Sinha said 54% polling was recorded. There were sporadic incidents of group clashes and bogus polling, for which the police arrested 110 persons, he added.

The constituencies where polling was held on Wednesday were Tamar, Silli, Khijri, Mandar, Gomia, Gandey, Giridih, Dumri, Barhi, Barkagaon, Mandu, Ramgarh, Koderma and Khunti.

Prominent candidates, whose fate was sealed in the EVMs were Sudesh Mahto and Chandra Prakash Chaudhary (Ajsu), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Congress), Raja Peter (JD-U), Chandra Mohan Prasad (BJP) and Bandhu Tirkey (Independent).