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Violence in Eastern Indian State Leaves 11 Dead
Rival groups battled with guns on Sunday during voting in India's poorest state, killing at least 11 people, officials said.
The violence erupted amid reports that hundreds of ballots had been stolen during the second round of local elections in Vaishali, Sheohar, Gaya and Barh districts in Bihar state, the state's home secretary, U.N. Panjiar, told reporters.
On Wednesday, 18 people were killed during the first phase of voting for village councils. More violence was expected during the remaining three stages of the voting, scheduled to be completed by April 30.
The village council elections are being held for the first time in 23 years because of a long court battle by the land-owning upper castes challenging a quota of seats set aside for people of lower castes.
A recent Supreme Court judgment upheld the quota and paved the way for elections. Officials had sent thousands of armed guards to protect polling stations.
At least 60% of the electorate had cast votes when the second stage of polling ended Sunday evening, a state election official said.
In a separate incident Sunday, unidentified people snatched four rifles from police in Nawada district, 70 miles east of the state capital, Patna, said R. Prasad, the director-general of police.
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