Naxals strike as voting begins for LS polls

NEW DELHI: Polling for the first phase of elections to Lok Sabha began on a violent note with Naxals striking in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar killing nine people even as voters trickled in at ballot booths across 17 states and union territories.

As soon as the polling began in Jharkhand, Naxals struck attacked a BSF bus, killing seven persons, including five BSF personnel, in Latehar district.

A helper and the civilian driver of the bus were among those killed in the landmine blast in the area, about 125 kms from Ranchi, according to deputy commissioner Sarvendu Tathagat.

The bus ferrying the BSF personnel from Ladhup to Arah was blown by the landmine blast triggered by the Maoists at around 7.30 am killing five BSF personnel, one helper and the civilian driver, the DC said.

The BSF personnel were returning after patrolling. A helicopter has flown to the spot for rescue operation, he said, adding an encounter is going on.

A homeguard and a police personnel on poll duty was shot dead and another injured by Naxals in Singhpur village under Banke Bazaar police station in Gaya district, police said. Two other police personnel were missing.

Naxalites also attacked polling booths in Dantewada and Narainpur regions in Chhattisgarh, triggering IED blasts and exchanging fire with security forces as polling began in the state. There were no immediate reports of any casualties.

The Naxals struck at Maroki, Mangnar and Jangampal in Dantewada area, about 350 kms from Raipur and in Nernar, Sonapal and Karmari in Narainpur region, around 250 kms from the Chhattisgarh capital, police officials said.

They said polling parties were safe.

Naxalites opened fire at two polling booths - Marokhi and Mangnar in Maoist-hit Dantewada Lok Sabha constituency, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Rahul Sharma said.

Security forces deployed at the polling booths have retaliated and the exchange of fire is still on, he said.

In Narainpur area, the Naxalites exploded IEDs in Sonapal and Kokaneta regions but there was no danger to the polling officials, Superintendent of Police, Narainpur, Ambresh Mishra said.

Additional security forces have been rushed to the affected areas.

Voting began on a moderate note in 124 constituencies spread across 15 states and two union territories during which the fate of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha and TRS president K Chandrasekar Rao will be decided.