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40 to 45 percent voter turnout in Bihar polls

     Patna: The month-long assembly elections in Bihar came to an end on Saturday with an estimated 45 to 50 percent voter turnout in the final phase of polls involving 41 of the 243 Assembly constituencies. "Polling for the fourth phase of elections passed off without any violence with an estimated 45-50 percent voter turnout," state's Additional Chief Electoral Officer Deepak Prasad said. The four-phase polls, held in the backdrop of controversial dissolution of the 13th assembly in which no no party or combination of parties enjoyed a majority in the 243-member House, witnessed lesser violence as compared to earlier ones in the state. Two persons were killed in different incidents during the elections this time. While a booth-grabber was shot dead by security personnel in Obra constituency during first phase of polling on October 18, a mentally challenged youth was killed by BSF on October 26 when he pointed a toy gun at them near a polling station in Raghopur constituency from where RJD leader and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi is trying her luck for a fourth time. Former Bihar minister and independent candidate for Garkha assembly seat in Saran district Muneshwar Chaudhary was detained this morning in apprehension of breach of peace. Two supporters of a candidate for Mokama seat were arrested at Darve village in Barh sub-division of Patna district and a double-barrel gun, two country-made pistols, one 9mm pistol and 73 rounds of ammunition were seized from them just before polling started. About 225 people were arrested while trying to disturb the polling , state home department sources said.