65 pc voter turnout in 7th phase of Bihar panchayat polls

One person was killed during violence in the seventh phase of Bihar panchayat polls today in which an estimated 65 per cent voter turnout was recorded.
State Election Commissioner (SEC) A K Chauhan told reporters here that an estimated 65 per cent voters exercised their franchise as against 62.8 per cent in 2011 panchayat polls.
He said that one Munna Singh was killed in firing between supporters of rival mukhiya candidates near polling booth number 275 in Anwarpur gram panchayat under Lalganj block of Vaishali district.
In another incident, a homeguard personnel Satyendra Singh died and another homeguard Shivshankar Singh was injured in a road accident while they were returning from polling duty from Garua block in Gaya district.

Election was deferred in 15 booths from 378 to 392 in Govindpur Khajuri gram panchayat under Kalyanpur block in Samastipur district due to faulty ballot papers, while the state election commission took similar step at polling booth number 171 under Triveniganj block in Supaul district on similar grounds, he said.
Chauhan said as many as 396 persons were arrested for electoral malpractices. 20 vehicles, Rs 45,690 cash, three weapons and as many ammunition were seized by the police from various parts of the state as part of the drive against electoral malpractices.
Polling was held in 854 gram panchayats spread over 57 blocks of 35 districts for the post of 121 members of zila parishad, 1,188 for panchayat samiti members, 854 for mukhiya, 854 for gram kutchery, 11,812 each for gram panchayat members and gram kutchery panchs, the State Election Commissioner said.

The 10 phase three-tier panchayat polls are being held to elect a total of 1,161 members of Zila Parishad, 11,496 members of panchayat samiti, Mukhiya and Sarpanch in 8,392 gram panchayats, 1,14,733 members in Gram Panchayat and Gram Kutchery each.