At least 18 people were injured in bomb attacks and clashes between rival groups as millions of Indians voted Tuesday in the second leg of elections in two eastern states amid a poll boycott called by Maoist rebels. 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, the police spokesman said.
Police opened fire to chase away suspected Maoist guerrillas in Munger but no one was injured, the spokesman said. 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.
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