Violence marks poll in Bihar, 30% voter turnout

Nine persons, including three policemen, were injured as stray clashes, lathicharge, police firing and boycott marked polling in Bihar's 11 Lok Sabha seats today, where an estimated 28-30 per cent votes were cast till 3 pm.           

Six persons were injured, two of them seriously, as police used batons when supporters of a candidate clashed with poll personnel over a dispute of production of photo identity cards at a booth in Kishanganj constituency, official sources said. Police opened fired to quell supporters of two rival candidates, who clashed and indulged in heavy stone-throwing, at a booth at Mongra in Katihar constituency, Superintendent of Police A K Yadav said.           

Three policemen were injured in the clash, which was triggered by an altercation over queueing before a booth but there was no report of injury in the police firing. Two bombs were found from booth numbers 95 and 98 in Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency, the sources said.            

State election sources quoting figures available till three pm, said around 28 to 30 per cent voters cast their votes in the constituencies of Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Khagaria, Begusarai, Banka, Araria, Munger, Katihar, Kishanganj and Bhagalpur.