Seven killed in Indian states, 50% votes cast in final phase
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk

NEW DELHI (India): Seven persons were killed and several injured in polls-related violence with over 50% of the 26.5 million voters exercised their franchise Wednesday in the final phase of assembly elections in Bihar and Jharkhand.

According to the sources at election department, 50 to 55 per cent turnout was recorded both for the 93 assembly seats in Bihar and 28 constituencies in Jharkhand where 1865 candidates including Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and rebel Jhkarhand Mukti Morcha leader Stephen Marandi are in fray.

In Bihar, where shoot-at-sight orders were in force against booth grabbers and the border with Nepal was sealed, three persons were killed in bomb explosion in Siwan hours before the poll while Vaishali, Patna and Muzaffarpur district accounted for one death each, said a news report received here.

In Jharkhand, a jawan of Special Task Force was killed and three persons were injured in a landmine blast near the Jhumra hills in Bokaro.●