Bihar poll ends, 2 cops killed in final phase

Assembly elections in Bihar ended on a violent note when two policemen were killed while defusing a bomb during the sixth and final phase today in the first casualties in the polls in which the overall voter turnout was around 52 per cent.

Counting of votes will take place on November 24 after the keenly fought elections spread over a month in the politically crucial state in which development issues appeared to override caste factor.

A Bihar Military Police constable and a homeguard were killed and nine others, including three journalists, injured when the landmine planted by Maoists exploded as a BMP bomb disposal squad attempted to defuse it near Londa village in Gaya district, police sources said.

The Maoists had renewed their poll boycott call for the final phase in which the voter turnout in the remaining 26 seats was an estimated 51 per cent.

An average 53 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise in the previous five phases of the polls that commenced on October 21.

The injured were hospitalised with the condition of two stated to be critical, the sources said.