10 killed in third phase of Indian elections

27 Apr, 2004

Ten people were killed and at least 43 injured in violence marring the third phase of India's marathon general elections Monday, police said.
Six of the 11 states where voting was taking place were affected. Four of the deaths occurred in the north-eastern state of Manipur, where separatist rebels exploded bombs and imposed a shutdown to keep voters away, police said.
A political worker of the ruling regional Telegu Desam Party was hacked to death in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh by a group of men who said they were supporters of the main opposition Congress party, said Ravi Shankar, a senior police official.
Three people died and 17 others were injured in the lawless eastern state of Bihar including a member of India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party who was beaten to death by unidentified men, officials said.
In adjoining Jharkhand province, one policeman and one polling official were killed and four policemen injured in an attack by suspected Maoist rebels, police said.
Three militants were killed and one captured by paramilitary troops on the outskirts of Imphal early Monday, while overnight a paramilitary soldier was killed and another injured in a clash with rebels in eastern Bishenpur district, police said.
Three of Manipur's 19 militant groups called a 17-hour shutdown and a poll boycott in the state.

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