65% turnout in 9th phase of Bihar panchayat polls

An estimated 65 per cent of the electorate today exercised their franchise in the ninth and penultimate phase of panchayat polls in Bihar amid stray incidents of clashes and death of a voter and a policeman.
"The Commission has received reports of 65 per cent voter turnout till 5 PM in the ninth phase of panchayat polls that passed off peacefully barring some stray incidents," State Election Commissioner (SEC) A K Chauhan told reporters.
"The percentage is likely to increase as the final reports from all the districts are still to reach us," he said.
Two persons including a constable died of heart attack on polling day.

Sitaram Singh (70) suffered heart attack when the Sector Officer and the Sub-Divisional Officer allegedly rebuked him for having three identity cards when he had gone to cast his vote at Jamuna Primary School in Imamganj of Gaya district, the Commissioner said.
Asked if all the three were voter ID cards, Chauhan said it was not known and a report was sought from the district magistrate on the incident.

The deceased's family alleged that Singh died after the officers beat him up.
A constable, identified as Phoolchand Ram, of Gaya police had a heart attack at a polling station located in an upgraded middle school under Imamganj police station of Gaya, Chauhan said.

A clash broke out between supporters of rival candidates at polling station 19 and 20 at Jafarnagar Middle School under Mufassil police station of Munger district, the Commissioner said and added that there were reports of firing of 15-20 rounds by the groups but no one was injured.
Chauhan said that as many as 331 people were arrested for electoral malpractices, while 40 vehicles were seized.
The polling was held in 667 gram panchayats spread over 41 blocks of 27 districts for the post of 87 members of zila parishad, 905 for panchayat samiti members, 667 for mukhiya, 667 for gram kutchery, 9,084 each for gram panchayat members and gram kutchery panchs, the 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.