Agence France Presse

New Delhi, February 15:

At least 18 people were injured in bomb attacks and clashes between rival groups as millions of Indians voted today in the second leg of polls in two eastern states amid a poll boycott called by the Maoists. Police commandos patrolled in helicopters during voting in crime-ridden Bihar, where 1,000 politicians were contesting 82 seats in the staggered state assembly polls. Six people were injured when two bombs went off in the crime-prone town of Munger as voting began, a police spokesman said, adding another six were injured in a string of separate blasts. Two security force members and three political activists were injured in clashes amid sporadic cases of mobs snatching electronic voting machines in Bihar.

Political supporters of a candidate attacked the home of a rival contestant in Darbhanga district. Voting was suspended in two centres in Saharsa town after angry voters beat up poll officials following a brawl, police spokesman said. In Jharkhand, rebels ambushed paramilitary troops camping in a voting centre and injured one of them in a shootout, police said. Voting was brisk in seven Jharkhand districts where 456 candidates including Chief Minister Arjun Munda are in the fray for 29 legislative seats in the second phase of polls in the state. The third and final phase of the polls, seen as a popularity test for India’s national political parties, is to be held on February 23.