NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Incident-free polling is a mirage for Biharis

Poll-related violence has already started in Bihar with the torching of candidates' vehicles in the southern part of the state and the gunning down of a Congress leader in Hazaribagh.

The state goes to the hustings in the first phase on February 12.

Given the fact that the eastern state had recorded a steep rise in poll-related violence, the Election Commission has taken precautionary measures. The poll boycott, called by several banned outfits, has further necessitated a massive security umbrella.

State Home Secretary U N Panjiyar said that 400 companies of central forces have been allotted, against the demand of 800 companies, to man polling stations in the state. As many as 100 companies have already been deployed in the ultra-dominated areas to comb it before poll day.

In the last assembly poll in 1995, held in five phases, more than 800 companies of central forces were deployed. Armed forces were stationed at all polling stations.

More than 60 people, including 40 security personnel, lost their lives in the worst-ever poll violence during the 1999 Lok Sabha poll held in the state. Landmine blasts, which took more than 50 lives in the Naxalite-dominated Palamau, Hazaribagh, Chatra, Rohtas and Lohardagga districts, had put a big question mark on the security arrangement of the state government.

In the 1998 Lok Sabha election, the state created a record of sorts with the EC ordering repolling in 4,942 booths out of the total of 6,520 nationwide.

In all, 44 people including security personnel were killed in pre- and post-poll violence. Altogether 1,700 cases were registered in connection with the election process, and 35,840 patrolling parties deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.

In the 1996 Lok Sabha election, the state witnessed 42 deaths. More than 1,400 police cases were lodged while over 30,400 patrolling parties were deployed to control the law and order situation.

In the 1995 assembly election, more than 20 people were killed in poll-related violence.

In the 1990 assembly election, altogether 59 people lost their lives. While nine were killed in police firing, the rest died either in group clashes or bomb blasts.

In the 1985 assembly poll, 69 people, including the Congress candidate, Gynaswar Prasad Singh, from Masauri constituency and the Indian People's Front candidate, Vishnu Mahato, from Hatia were killed.

In the 1991 Lok Sabha election, 56 people, including two candidates, were killed. Repolling was ordered in more than 500 booths, including 212 booths in Munger constituency.

In the 1989 Lok Sabha poll, repolling was ordered in 283 booths due to various irregularities. A precedent was also set in 17 booths -- 14 in Gopalganj and three in Giridih -- when ballots were not counted in the wake of largescale rigging. Forty people lost their lives.

In 1984, 24 people were killed, while in 1980 a huge contingent of armed forces was deployed. Repolling was ordered in 77 booths.

The General Election held during the Janata Party wave in 1977 witnessed the killing of 10 people. Repolling was held in 41 booths.

In 1971, repoll was ordered in 53 booths; 1967 saw it only in 15 booths.

The first poll-related violence in the state was recorded in 1962 from Begusarai when repolling was ordered in two booths.

No untoward incidents had taken place during the first two elections, in 1952 and 1957.

UNI

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report