At least five trucks were torched allegedly by Maoists in Latehar district, hours before the commencement of the second and final phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections on Wednesday.

According to a senior police officer, the incident took place in Laat forest under the jurisdiction of Herhanj Police Station around 1.30 am.

Trucks used for coal transportation at the Tubed coal project in Latehar were set on fire by members of the banned Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC), a splinter group of Maoists.

According to Latehar Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav, the trucks were returning after dumping coal when the incident occurred. An investigation has been launched, and raids are being conducted to apprehend those responsible.

The Maoists left a pamphlet at the scene, threatening to halt the loading and transportation activities at the Tubed coal project until negotiations are held with their group.

Truck drivers said that around 12 Maoists entered the forest and began firing indiscriminately. “The truck drivers were instructed to exit their vehicles, and several rounds of bullets were fired before the trucks were set ablaze,” an officer stated.

On the same day, voting is taking place for 38 Assembly seats in the second and final phase of the Jharkhand elections, under tight security measures. Polling kicked off at 7 AM in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and will continue until 5 PM. Latehar participated in the first phase of elections held on November 13.

Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made an appeal to all the voters going to vote in the second and final phase of Jharkhand elections to cast record votes to form a government that cares about the bread, daughter and land of Jharkhand.

“Today, cast a historic vote for the departure of infiltrators and a corruption-free system. Vote for the golden future of the youth and prosperity of all the people of Jharkhand including Santhal Pargana,” he said in a post on X.

Taking to X, Chief Minister Hemant Soren also said: “The second and final phase of the great festival of democracy is being organised in Jharkhand. Today voting is being held on 38 Assembly seats in the second phase of Jharkhand elections. In the first phase of voting, people of 43 Assembly constituencies enthusiastically exercised their franchise. All sections voted for their rights and a strong Jharkhand. Those who were conspiring against Jharkhand were given a befitting reply.”

“Today’s phase will play an important role in the creation of ‘Sona Jharkhand’. To save Jharkhand from breaking up, we must unite and vote in large numbers. Today again, voters must exercise their franchise with the same enthusiasm and zeal. On this important occasion, an appeal is made to all of you to reach your booth centres in large numbers and exercise your right to vote and inspire everyone else too. Many best wishes and greetings to all the voters, polling officials, and soldiers of JMM and INDIA alliance who are participating in the voting today,” he added.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) today asked authorities in Uttar Pradesh to ensure fair byelection in the state after controversy erupted over checking of voters’ identity. The election body has also suspended police personnel who violated guidelines to check the identity cards of voters who came to cast their ballots.

Issuing a statement, the ECI said that no eligible voter should be prevented from voting. It added that any kind of biased attitude during voting will not be tolerated. The Election Commission asserted that after receiving a complaint, there will be an immediate investigation, adding that if anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken.

Notably, byelection are currently underway in the nine assembly seats of Ghaziabad, Katehari, Khair, Kundarki, Karhal, Majhawan, Meerapur, Phulpur and Sisamau. Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner has instructed the state’s Chief Electoral Officer and all District Election Officers and Returning Officers to ensure fair and smooth voting process.

He directed the officials to take immediate note of all complaints and take immediate action. Along with this, inform the complainant about the action taken through social media by tagging them, he added.

The election body’s intervention came after Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav shared a video alleging voter harassment. He called for the suspension of officers checking voter cards and Aadhaar IDs unlawfully. Following, the Kanpur police confirmed the suspension of sub-inspectors implicated in the allegations and urged strict compliance with election procedures.

Reports stated that the Samajwadi Party alleged that certain communities were targeted and prevented from casting their votes. However, the BJP dismissed these claims, requesting that identity verification for burqa-clad voters be intensified. 

In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, BJP’s Akhilesh Kumar Awasthi said that some men have worn burqas and tried to vote. He added that on many occasions, they have been stopped by poll officials. He asserted that if the identity of burqa-clad women is not checked, fake voting will take place. Only proper checking will ensure fair and transparent voting, he concluded.

As Maharashtra votes for the Assembly Election, a major political battle snowballed in the state after the BJP released audio clips attributing it to NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole of using Bitcoin scam proceeds to fund elections. 

The BJP’s move followed soon after former IPS officer Ravindranath Patil on Tuesday levelled serious allegations against the Baramati MP Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole. The former IPS officer alleged that the two leaders misappropriated bitcoins from the 2018 cryptocurrency fraud case and used the same to fund Maharashtra assembly polls.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, also Supriya Sule’s cousin, claimed that he recognised the Baramati MP’s voice in the purported audio clips. Pledging a thorough investigation in the matter, the Deputy Chief Minister said that from the tone in the audio clips, he can identify the voices. He added that one of the voices is his sister’s and the other is someone with whom he worked extensively. He asserted that an inquiry will be conducted and the truth will emerge.

Meanwhile, Supriya Sule on Wednesday categorically denied the charges, labeling them as baseless. Speaking to the media, the NCP (SP) leader said that she has filed a defamation case, and a criminal case. She said that she is ready to answer BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi’s five questions anywhere, anytime, on any platform. These allegations are entirely false and fabricated, she concluded. Responding to Ajit Pawar’s remarks, Supriya Sule dismissed his claims, saying that he is Ajit Pawar; and that he can say anything. 

After the BJP released the audio clips on Tuesday, Supriya Sule took to x, and responded to allegations of her involvement in the bitcoin scam linked to the Maharashtra assembly elections. The Baramati MP said that she denies all the allegations levelled against her by Sudhanshu Trivedi. Mentioning that all this is conjecture and innuendo, she added that she is ready for a debate with any representative of the bjp at a time and date of their choice, in a public forum. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed that the development has unmasked the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and sought replies from the Congress and Supriya Sule.

Supriya Sule alleged that these were familiar tactics of spreading false information to manipulate the righteous voters the night before election. Furthermore, she also sent a complaint to the Election Commission of India and Maharashtra cyber crime department against what she called the fake allegations made of bitcoin misappropriation. Her complaint targets Patil and Gaurav Mehta, who was the witness in the 2018 case.

The Baramati MP further said that her lawyers will issue a criminal and civil defamation notice against Sudhanshu Trivedi.