60 percent voting on 1st day of indian election 2009

The first phase of the staggered Indian Lok Sabha polls 2009 was marred by Naxal violence that claimed 18 lives as an estimated 60 per cent of the 14.30 crore voters exercised their franchise in 124 constituencies today.

Simultaneous elections to assemblies in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa also drew about 60 per cent voters' response with the polling today covering more than half of the constituencies in the two states.

Heavily-armed Naxals went into action shortly after voting began this morning, blasting landmine targeting a bus ferrying Border Security Force personnel in Jharkhand's Latehar district in Jharkhand leaving seven personnel and two civilians dead.

Maoists blew up a vehicle carrying poll officials in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district, killing five of them and traded gunfire with security forces killing two CRPF jawans.

Polling booths were set on fire and there was exchange of fire between naxals and security forces in Dantewada and Narainpur areas of the state that left two CRPF jawan dead and five others injured.

In Bihar's Gaya district, the Maoists shot dead two security personnel.

"Considering the complexity and the challenges, the Election Commission is totally satisfied with today's polling, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters here while briefing media persons about the voter turnout. PTI ( Press trust of India )