62.5 per cent polling recorded in Bihar

Polling during the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Bihar was by and large peaceful, except Banka constituency where the police had to resort to ten rounds of firing to disperse a mob. According to Election Commission, the overall voting percentage in Bihar’s five seats was 62.5 per cent.

The mob in Banka became agitated when a security personnel was charged with sexual harassment of a female voter. As the situation took a turn for worse, the police opened fire in the air to disperse the crowd. No one was, however, injured in the firing.

Elsewhere, in the remaining four LS constituencies, polling was moderate with relatively poor turnout of voters. While Kishanganj, which has over 70 per cent Muslim electorate, recorded 63.4 per cent polling, Katihar witnessed 61.1 pc, Banka 57.8 pc and Purnia 62.5 per cent. The lowest poll percentage was in Bhagalpur (55.4 pc).

Polling for four LS seats in Bihar had already taken place on April 11. With today’s election, polling has been completed in nine out of total 40 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Prominent among those whose fate has been sealed today include former Union Ministers Tariq Anwar and Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav.