60 per cent voting in 3rd phase of panchayat polls in Bihar

More than 60 per cent voting was recorded in the third phase of panchayat polls in Bihar today amid reports of booth grabbing, firing and group clashes at some places.
"A total of 60.25 per cent of voters' turnout was recorded in the third phase of panchayat polls that passed off peacefully barring some stray incidents of irregularities," State Election Commissioner (SEC) A K Chauhan told reporters.
Chauhan said the voting percentage may slightly increase once the final figures reach to the Commission.
Polling in the third phase was held at 62 blocks of 38 districts amid tight security to elect 129 members of Zila Parishad, 1284 members of panchayat samitis, Mukhiya and Sarpanch in 941 gram panchayats, 12863 members of village Panchayat and 12863 members of Gram Kutchery.

As per reports available to the Commission so far, Chauhan said, it has cancelled polling at booth number 63, 64 and 65 of Oob village in Aurangabad district following a report from the SP that polling and police personnel were helping one contestant through bogus voting.
He said 16 persons including a sub-inspector of police were arrested in this connection.

Re-poll has been ordered at several booths in Darbhanga, Samastipur, West Champaran, Nalanda and Muzaffarpur districts due to incidents of mistakes in printing names and symbols on ballot papers, pouring of ink in ballot box, inter-change of ballot papers, group clash etc.

There is a report of firing incident during a clash between two groups at polling station 46 in Saren Panchayat of Neemchak Bathani police station of Gaya.
The State Election Commissioner said repolling has been ordered at 45 polling stations in first phase and 27 polling stations in second phase.
A total of 420 persons were arrested, while 47 vehicles, one air gun, 300 cartridges and 1.4 litre of illicit liquor were seized in the third phase of polling, he said.
Out of the 10 phase of polling, three phases have been conducted on April 24, 28 and May 2 while the remaining seven phases would be held on May 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 and 30.