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10 killed in last round of Indian state polls

PATNA: Violence during elections in the crime-ridden Indian state of Bihar and remote northeastern Manipur has killed at least 10 people, police and media reports said on Tuesday.

Police in Bihar said seven people were killed as they tried to storm a polling station during the state's third and final round of voting in state elections.

"Seven miscreants including a notorious criminal were shot dead by the police near a polling station at Majhaulia village under Bettiah constituency," Director General of Police K.A. Jacob told Reuters.

"They were attempting to storm the polling station when police fired at them," he added.

United News of India said at least three security personnel were killed and nine injured in election violence in Manipur on Tuesday, the second round of voting in the state.

Security in Manipur had been tightened after at least five people, including two members of the security forces, were killed in violence during the first round of voting on February 12.

Security has been significantly tightened in Bihar after over 20 people were killed in landmine blasts, guerrilla attacks or clashes in the first two rounds.

"About 440 companies of paramilitary forces and state armed police have been deployed in today's poll," Jacob said.

Bihar and Manipur are among four states voting for their state assemblies in India's first voting since federal polling in October in which a 20-party coalition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party won a new five-year-term.-Reuters