Chandazori hamlet in Deoghar wears a deserted look on Wednesday. Picture by Mani Keshri

Deoghar/Godda, Nov. 25: Rural areas of Deoghar, Sarath and Palazori witnessed a mere 20-23 per cent turnout of voters today though 50-55 per cent polling took place in the 14 seats of Santhal Pargana.

Sporadic violence and disruption of polling due to technical snags in EVMs also plagued many booths of Santhal Pargana.

Tension ran high at Poraiyahat Assembly segment in Godda this afternoon after villagers of Amarpur Fathatola attacked JMM candidate Suraj Mandal. Mandal’s bodyguard reportedly fired four rounds to disperse the mob.

“I went to the polling station (booth 164) when suddenly JVM activists attacked me,” Mandal said, showing his wounded hands. One of his supporters also sustained injuries and his vehicle was damaged by the villagers.

Villagers, however, alleged that Mandal arrived at the polling booth and started abusing villagers for not voting in his favour. Mandal’s bodyguard (from the Godda police) was suspended while Mandal was admitted to Godda Sadar Hospital. FIRs were lodged by both sides.

Some men also broke the EVM at booth 414 at Raghunathpur under Mohonpur block at Deoghar Assembly segment. One person was arrested with a country-made pistol inside polling booth 303 in Sarath Assembly segment.

Faulty EVMs at many places in Deoghar and Godda also delayed polling. At booth 207 at Ghatayari in Pathna block, Barhet Assembly segment, angry villagers held up polls till 11am. Voting started from 11.30am only after the intervention of higher officials.

Polling was delayed at Madhupur, Sarath, Godda, Poraiyahat and Pakur due to EVM snags.

Out of 391 voters, only 56 voters had turned up at the polling station of Chandazori till 11.50am. Located hardly 15km from Deoghar district headquarters, Chandazori is situated beside Jasidih-Deoghar road.

But lack of facilities meant that people had to walk more than 5km to reach Jasidih. Voters of Jamtara, Pakur, Godda and Sahebganj districts, also facing similar development problems, vented their anger at political leaders. “Why should we vote for politicians who never bother about us or try to address our problems?” said one Kadar Pandit. He owns over seven acres but his paddy got completely damaged this time due to lack of irrigation facilities.

“Look at irrigation. We are still living in the medieval age. We have an electric line but no power supply due to a transformer problem. We don’t have any roads or drinking water sources here. We walk 3-4km to Darwa river to collect drinking water,” said Fakiya Devi, a villager.

Villagers alleged that under NREGA, two attempts had been made to dig a well in the village but nothing had happened so far.

In Singhiya, another neighbouring village, out of 526 voters only 45 turned up at the polling station till 11.10am today. “There is no drinking water facility here, the only hand pump set at the middle school is lying defunct,” said Pradeep Kumar, a labourer.