60 per cent turnout in 1st phase of poll, naxals kill 18

New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI) The first phase of the staggered
polls as part of Indian general elections was marred by Naxal
violence that claimed 18 lives as an estimated 60 percent of
the 14.30 crore voters exercised their franchise in 124
constituencies Thursday.

Simultaneous elections to assemblies in Andhra Pradesh
and Orissa also drew about 60 percent voters' response with
the polling today covering more than half of the
constituencies in the two states.

Heavily-armed Naxals went into action shortly after
voting began this morning, blasting landmine targeting a bus
ferrying Border Security Force personnel in Jharkhand's
Latehar district in Jharkhand leaving seven personnel and two
civilians dead.

Maoists blew up a vehicle carrying poll officials in
Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district, killing five of them and
traded gunfire with security forces killing two CRPF jawans.

Polling booths were set on fire and there was exchange
of fire between naxals and security forces in Dantewada and
Narainpur areas of the state that left two CRPF jawan dead and
five others injured.

In Bihar's Gaya district, the Maoists shot dead two
security personnel.

"Considering the complexity and the challenges, the
Election Commission is totally satisfied with today's polling,
Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters
here while briefing mediapersons about the voter turnout.
PTI TEAM
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