Voting in India's parliamentary elections was marred by another attack blamed on communist rebels. Police say four policemen and an election official were killed Thursday when a landmine blew up their jeep in the eastern state of Bihar.
Authorities have been on high alert for attacks by communist rebels, known as Naxalites, who have waged a campaign of violence to disrupt the polls. At least 19 people were killed in rebel violence during the first phase of the election last week.
Millions of Indians voted in 12 states across the country this week in the second phase of five-stage elections. The two main parties -- the ruling Congress Party and the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party -- are not expected to win enough of the 543 seats in the lower house of parliament to govern without forming a coalition. Both have campaigned on promises of improving the lives of India's poor. Some 714-million people are eligible to vote in the election, which is staggered for logistical and security reasons.
Voting is scheduled to end on May 13th, and the results are to be announced three days later.