Polling passes peacefully in Bihar

A provincial poll in India's lawless state of Bihar ended relatively peacefully Sunday, officials said, despite earlier shoot-on-sight orders to police amid fears of attacks by Maoist rebels.
"Polling for the third phase of the assembly elections ended peacefully with not even a single incident of major violence," said K.J. Rao, state election commissioner.
The turnout, however, was a low 40 to 45 percent despite the fact many first-time voters had lined up to cast their ballots.
"Many people I visited said they were voting for the first time," said Rao.
Minor clashes in three districts between rival political groups had left 10 people injured, officials said.
Some 73,000 paramilitary troopers backed by police in the eastern state had guarded the balloting in the third round of the four-phase state assembly elections, called after a February vote failed to produce a clear winner.