Maoists torch EVMs in Bihar

Patna : Maoist guerrillas wearing masks raided a polling station and torched some electronic voting machines (EVMs) and chased the voters in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district on Sunday with slogans of vote boycott, police said.

The red rebels stormed the booth at Subaigarh under Runisaidpur constituency and burned poll materials before polling began at 7 am for the second phase of a staggered six-phase Assembly polls in Bihar.

But the polling officials with the aid of security forces procured fresh polling materials and EVMs to start voting with redeployment of forces.

The authorities said unprecedented security arrangements have been made to instill confidence among the 8.44 lakh electorate spreading at 10,315 polling stations in six districts.

The Election Commission has reduced poll timings in Moaist dominated areas in Seodhar, along with four segments of Belsand, Minapur, Paroo and Sahebgunj. Polling is being held here between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM.