Jharkhand phase II records 54% turnout

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 on foot soon after polling began, a police official said. Maoists also blew up a culvert at Matiobera. Polling in other parts 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 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).

Ramgarh recorded the maximum turnout with 62%, followed by Koderma 60%. Turnout was better as compared to the first phase’s 52%. This is significant given the fact that most constituencies fall under Naxal-hit areas. However, no voting was recorded at 15 polling booths in Tamar and six in Dumri, apparently due to the Maoists’ poll boycott threat. The EC will soon take a decision on repoll in these booths.