(From top) Gaya police personnel lathicharge villagers who blocked the Gaya-Patna road during the panchayat elections on Wednesday; district magistrate-cum-election-officer Bandana Preyashi at a booth in Gaya; and women show their voter identity cards at a booth in Khisersarai block in Gaya. Pictures by Suman

Patna, April 20: The first phase of panchayat elections in Bihar was marked by violence and frequent disruptions in the polling process, today.

Three persons, including an assistant sub-inspector of police (ASI), were killed and a police patrol car was set on fire by armed rebels of the CPI (Maoist) in Naxalite-affected Jamui. The rebels took away three rifles and a pistol from the security personnel.

According to the state election commission, on an average 55 per cent polling was recorded in the first phase. Araria recorded the highest — 70 per cent polling, while the lowest was reported from Rohtas.

State election commission secretary A.B. Pandey said no major incident except the Naxalite attack in Jamui was reported from any part of the state during the election.

Pandey said no incident of poll boycott has been reported. Re-polling has been ordered in seven polling stations in Patna, Rohtas, Jamui and Katihar districts. The re-election would be conducted in the 11th phase i.e. after completion of the 10-phase election.

Pandey, however, expressed concern over slow polling process. He said instructions have been issued to all the district magistrates to increase the number of polling stations where 400 or more than 400 votes were to be cast. “They have been asked to set up two compartments in the same building to accelerate the polling process,” he added.

Director-general of police Neel Mani said 501 people, including a presiding officer and three women candidates, were arrested on the charge of attempting to disrupt the poll process. Ninety-five vehicles were seized and Rs 61,300 was recovered from the possession of the arrested persons.

According to reports, armed squad members of the Maoist attacked the polling booth number 118 located at Lakshmipur Primary school under Chandra Mandi police station in Jamui and killed an ASI and looted his licensed pistol. They also snatched three regular rifles from homeguard jawans deputed for poll duty.

The rebels also hurled bombs near the polling station to scare away the voters. Two persons, including a girl, died in the explosion. The identity of the deceased has not yet been ascertained. The deceased policeman has been identified as Rajendra Jha.

Sources said one person sustained bullet injuries at polling station number 116 under Halai police outpost in Samastipur district.

In Bhagalpur, 45-51 per cent polling was recorded. There was a huge turn out of voters, mostly women at the polling stations in rural areas.

Munger, Jamui, Lakhisarai and Banka districts also witnessed incidents of clashes among the candidates. Two persons lost their lives while making bombs in Jamui district. Jamui superintendent of police R.N. Singh said two persons died while four others sustained serious injuries, when the crude bombs they were making, exploded at Dudhaniya village under Nabadih Pilkhari panchayat in Chakai block of the district. Singh said: “The incident took place at the house of former mukhiya Sunil Yadav, who too is in the fray for the elections.” Yadav, however, managed to escaped after the incident.

“Salil Soren, a former mukhiya and Nand Kishore Marandi, a zila parisad member along with other five people were arrested from different parts of Chakai block,” the SP added.

Six people reportedly sustained injuries in the group clash outside polling booth numbers 133 and 135 at Munger. Two supporters of two candidates were arrested for violating the model code of conduct. Polling was disrupted for over two hours at polling booth numbers 323 and 324 at Vishan village under Pirpainty block in Bhagalpur district.

Election in Muzaffarpur passed off amid sporadic incidents of skirmishes and bomb explosion. Altogether 25 persons were arrested for disturbing the poll process.

Deputy superintendent of police (east) Shibli Nomani said two persons were arrested in Hathori panchayat of Katra block while distributing money to influence voters. A mukhiya candidate of Berai panchayat of Katra Ram Tapeshwar Sahni was apprehended for intimidating the voters to cast votes in his favour.

The election in Gaya, too, was conducted amid tight security arrangements. Incidents of firing in polling booths and clashes between supporters of two rival candidates were reported from Belaganj and Khisersarai blocks of Gaya.

Polling was held for 19 panchayats in Belaganj and 16 panchayats of Khisersarai block in which around 45 to 50 per cent voters turned up to cast their votes. Gaya district magistrate-cum-election-officer for panchayat polls Bandana Preyashi and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vinay Kumar visited the booths to ensure fair polling. The SSP said polling was peaceful barring a few incidents.

In Motihari — three-tier elections held under Maoist-affected Madhuban, Phenhara and Tetariya blocks — passed off peacefully with no incidents of violence reported from any part of the district. On an average, 50-52 per cent polling was recorded.

In Chhapra too, there was no major incident of violence. Saran district magistrate Vinay Kumar said around 50 per cent polling was recorded. He said 30 persons were arrested, including 20 candidates for different posts.

In Siwan, 22 persons were arrested. The candidate for zila parishad post was caught distributing money and the candidate for the post of mukhiya at Raghunathpur was arrested with liquor and job cards. About 60 per cent polling was recorded in Siwan.

In Gopalganj, 165 persons were arrested on charges of creating disturbances.

Ten people were arrested in Darbhanga, 14 in Samastipur.