NEW DELHI, India (AP) — Leftist guerrillas set off a mine Monday that killed five soldiers sent to guard polling stations in India’s parliamentary elections. The explosion and other attacks raised the election-related death toll to 29 over two days.
The soldiers were traveling to polling stations in Andhra Pradesh state, where voting in India’s staggered nationwide elections picks up again Saturday. Another 37 soldiers were injured.
Police suspect the outlawed Peoples War Group, who had urged a boycott of the vote.
Tribal guerrillas seeking autonomy called for a boycott in Nagaland, supported by opposition parties and student groups. But election officials said turnout was nearly 42 percent.
Also Monday, a court reinstated a right-wing Hindu nationalist government dismissed in Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state, over the weekend after two of its coalition partners withdrew support.
The court order came as a boost for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is widely expected to take the most seats in the election but fall short of a majority.
On Sunday night, the Maoist guerrillas triggered another mine that killed four election officers and two policemen bringing ballot boxes to central collection stations. Another political activist was stabbed to death overnight, United News of India news agency reported.
Three men were killed in clashes overnight after voting ended in the eastern state of West Bengal.
Twelve people were killed in voting in nine states on Sunday and 23 died in the first phase of voting Feb. 16.
Mine explosions and clashes mar Indian elections
Published February 24, 1998
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