For long, the incidents of poll violence, booth capturing and influencing elections through muscle power had seemed like a thing of the past. But the post-poll violence in Saran Lok Sabha constituency on May 21 has revived memories of the bygone era of rampant caste violence and allegedly rigged elections in Bihar.
On the day after polling on May 21, violence broke out between the Yadav and the Rajput communities in Badi Telpa village, in which a youth named Chandan Yadav lost his life and another local was seriously injured after gunshots were fired purportedly by people of the other community. Several others also sustained injuries.
Locals told Newslaundry that people from the marginalised community were being stopped from casting their votes at the polling booth in Badi Telpa, following which Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Rohini Acharya reached the spot. On her complaint, the police pacified the people and voting resumed.
However, the following morning, heated exchanges took place between members of the two communities, eventually leading to violence. The police have arrested two people in the matter.
Watch.
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