Evidently cursed for Maoist related violence, Jharkhand could not see a totally peaceful election this time too.At least eight persons, including five policemen and three members of polling party were killed, while five others were injured when Maoists, upset with the high turnout of voters defying their diktat in Santhal Pargana, triggered a landmine blowing up a bus carrying them back to Dumka after conducting the elections on Thursday evening.
The horrific incident took place at around 4:30 pm near Asna village under Shikaripara police station in Dumka when a polling party of booth number 62 was on its return journey to Dumka in a mini bus. The bus blew high as the landmine exploded killing the persons on the spot and the Maoists started firing on the bus indiscriminately.
Though, security forces from the nearby cluster reached the spot in half an hour's time they were not enough in number to help the injured persons. Apprehending the threat of being attacked again security personnel alongwith necessary help could not reach the spot for about three hours, though IG of Santhal Pargana Zone and Dumka SP were rushed to the accident spot. locals said that the officials, cautious of landmines, walked to the incident site.
According to eye witnesses' account, after the bus was blown up the Maoists started firing at those who were alive. Security personnel also retaliated by opening fire but the Maoists kept them under seize for about an hour, they said. "Though the figures are yet to be confirmed, at least eight persons on poll duty, including five policemen have been killed in the unfortunate incident. The casualty may rise by morning. The site was too remote to send immediate backup and help through air route," said State Police Spokesperson Anurag Gupta.
There were several others, who were caught in the incident and are stuck inside the debris of the bus, Gupta added. Explaining the reason for sending backup at the site late Gupta further said that the state police did not want to take risk of double attack and took all precautions.
The State police released the names of f ASI RN Singh and Constable Ravindra Kujur or Garhwa, while one Hawildar and three other policemen's names were not available at the time of filing of this report.Chief Minister Hemant Soren, whose father Shibu Soren is contesting the poll from Dumka said that he was continuously monitoring the relief and rescue efforts by the government. "This is really unfortunate. I am keeping an eye on the relief measures being undertaken and have instructed to provide all possible help to the people involved in the accident," he said.
Meanwhile, before the Maoists carried out the ghastly act, about 64 percent of voters had queued up at the polling stations in the Santhal Pargana region giving a boost to EC's expectations. The poll percentage of Jharkhand increased by 12 per cent from 50.97 in 2009 to about 62.59 in 2014.
large number of voters in the underdeveloped Santhal Pargana region alongwith people from coal belt of Dhanbad registered their presence seeking a better government at the Centre that may change their fate. Enthusiastic youths, women and rural voters took the polling percentage as high as 62 per cent in Dhanbad during the final phase of polling.