Maoists attack poll parties, torch bus
The second phase of election for the Assembly in Jharkhand that drew 63.36 per cent turnout saw death of one person in police firing at a polling booth in Gumla district’s Sisai constituency on Saturday. Two others sustained bullet injuries in the firing.
The villagers pelted stones at the security personnel and stabbed them with sharp objects causing serious injuries after the first accidental gunshot hit one of the assailants on his thigh, police said.
The security personnel had to take the extreme step in a bid to protect themselves from an enraged group who tried to snatch their guns during a scuffle. The first gunshot hit thigh of one of the assailant, when he tried to snatch a cop’s gun. The second gunshot killed another assailant.
In another incident, Maoists torched a bus used for ferrying voters in Chaibasa. However, no casualties were reported in the incident. Later in the day, Maoists attacked poll parties in Khunti’s Arki block leading to an encounter with security forces. With prompt reinforcement, the security personnel forced them to flee, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vinay Kumar Choubey.
