DATE=9/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA/ELECTION (L)
NUMBER=2-254047
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In India, at least 32 people, including 20
policemen, have been killed in election-related
violence as voters cast ballots in the third phase of
the country's staggered election for a new parliament.
Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, among the five
states voting on Saturday were Uttar Padesh and Bihar
- states that play a crucial role in deciding the
outcome of elections in the country. Voting was held
in 76 election districts.
Text: Most of the violence in Saturday's election was
reported from India's poorest and most lawless state,
Bihar. It occurred despite tight security, with
thousands of policemen guarding polling stations.
The policemen were killed when landmines blew up their
vehicles as they were reporting for election duty.
Bihar's Home Commissioner U.N. Panjiar is blaming the
violence on Maoist guerrillas who had threatened to
disrupt the polling.
///INSERT PANJIAR ACT///
The areas in which these incidents have taken
place and the modus operandi of the operation
indicates that they have been done by extremist
organizations.
///END ACT///
Police had been given orders to shoot to kill anyone
attempting to interfere with the voting. Election
violence is common in Bihar.
In Kashmir, voting was held in one election district -
- the Baramullah constituency, but the heavily guarded
polling booths were virtually empty. Four persons are
reported to have died in confrontations with security
forces because they refused to vote.
In Shilwath village residents said paramilitary troops
opened fire when they refused to leave their homes to
cast votes. Authorities say the four people were
killed when they tried to take rifles from the
soldiers. Muslim separatist organizations have called
for a poll boycott in Kashmir; turnout has been very
low in most of the areas where voting has been held so
far.
Authorities said the voting was largely peaceful in
the three other states where polling was held --
Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh -
though some incidents of scattered violence were
reported.
The most significant politically of these three is the
country's most populous state -- Uttar Pradesh - which
plays a crucial role in deciding the electoral
fortunes of political parties because it sends the
largest number of lawmakers to parliament.
Opinion polls indicate the main opposition Congress
party could make gains in Uttar Pradesh, while the
ruling Bharatiya Janata Party could lose some ground.
However, exit polls after the first two rounds of
voting have shown the BJP-led coalition winning more
than half the seats in parliament.
The vote counting will begin October 6th after the next
two rounds of voting are completed. (Signed)
NEB/AP/KL
18-Sep-1999 10:08 AM EDT (18-Sep-1999 1408 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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