Despite a Maoist call for poll boycott and a landmine blast killing a CISF jawan, more than 50% of a total of 30.81 lakh voters cast their ballot in the second phase of elections to 14 Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand.
In the 2005 Assembly polls, the turnout was less than 48 %.
As many as 4,321 booths were set up across Tamar, Silli, Khijri, Mandar, Gomia, Gandey, Giridih, Dumri, Barhi, Mandu, Barkagaon, Ramgarh, Koderma and Khunti constituencies?of which at least 10 have a strong Maoist presence. Around 40,000 security force personnel and two choppers were deployed across the state in view of the poll boycott call.
Barring two incidents of violence, polling was by and large peaceful. CISF jawan Harpal Singh was killed in Gandey when Maoists blasted a landmine targeting a patrol party near Nathdih village. In another incident, the Maoists blasted a culvert by triggering a landmine near Nimiaghat village. ?Both incidents occurred in Maoist-infested Giridih district,? inspector general of police VH Deshmukh said. Harpal Singh belonged to Hoshiarpur in Punjab.
The second round of polling has sealed the fate of 259 candidates, including 15 women. In the third phase scheduled on December 8, seven constituencies will go to polls.