Patna, Feb. 22 :     Bihar ended the final phase of elections with a death toll of 12, but for once the lawkeepers woke up to the lawlessness around them and struck back. Violence also marred the final leg of elections in Manipur, where three persons died, but Orissa and Haryana witnessed peaceful polling. West Champaran, the site of Gandhi's satyagraha, was today the arena of a fierce encounter between security forces and voters on one side and dreaded gangsters on the other. Seven persons, including Zakir Mian, a criminal who has been featured in India's Most Wanted, died in this clash, while five others were killed elsewhere in the state. About 60-70 per cent voting was recorded in the 108 seats. Counting will start on Friday. Gopalgunge, from where the chief minister's brother is contesting, was the scene of the most tragic death today. A 60-year-old widow died there, being caught in a shoot-out between CPM and Samata workers. Jogi Devi, who had come to cast her vote, was hit by a stray bullet as the rivals exchanged fire. She died on the spot. Janata Dal(U) block leader Ghulam Rasool was stoned to death in Darbhanga district. The trouble in West Champaran's Bettiah block started around 10.20 am when a polling station was raided by about 12 gangsters led by Zakir Mian. Armed with Kalashnikovs and other automatic weapons, they directed the election staff to leave the booth and went in to cast false votes. Some of the men took position outside the booth as the few home guards on duty scampered for cover. But a mobile armed paramilitary unit was tipped off and it reached the spot after asking for reinforcement. Zakir Mian's gang opened fire on the patrol team. The security force returned the fire. A BSF unit arrived soon to join the fight. The gang began to retreat, hurling bombs and grenades to keep the securitymen at bay. They were pursued by hundreds of villagers, who had identified the booth-grabber as Zakir Mian. The gang took shelter in a jungle and continued to fire. 'For about two hours, the encounter continued. By the time it was over, seven were killed,' said director-general of police K.A. Jacob. Five of the criminals fled. Zakir Mian was apparently backing an Independent candidate. But the police said a diary found on him had names of several politicians.