BHABUA: Tensions escalated in Bihar’s Kaimur district on Friday night as supporters of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from Ramgarh resorted to stone-pelting over a delay in the announcement of the assembly election results. The incident, which occurred outside the counting centre at the Bazar Samiti Mohania campus, left three central paramilitary personnel injured and an official vehicle torched, police said.

According to Superintendent of Police Hari Mohan Shukla, the unrest was triggered when BSP supporters expressed frustration over what they claimed was a deliberate delay by local Election Commission of India (ECI) officials in declaring results. The protesters accused the administration of attempting to favour the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ashok Kumar Singh.

“The mob, angered by the delay, tried to force their way into the counting centre and set an official vehicle on fire. Three personnel of the central police forces were injured while trying to control the situation,” Shukla said. Security personnel responded by deploying teargas shells and carrying out a baton charge to disperse the crowd.

The source of the agitation was the narrow margin in the Ramgarh assembly constituency, where the BSP candidate, Satish Kumar Singh Yadav, had been leading. After the counting concluded, the Election Commission officially declared Yadav the winner by just 30 votes. He secured a total of 72,689 votes, including 307 postal votes, narrowly defeating the BJP candidate, Ashok Kumar Singh, who polled 72,659 votes.

Despite repeated attempts by reporters, officials such as District Magistrate Sunil Kumar and Returning Officer Kamla Kant Trivedi were not available for comment on the counting or the subsequent violence.

The incident underscores the volatility surrounding closely contested elections in Bihar, where narrow margins often trigger tensions among party supporters. Authorities emphasized that security forces would remain vigilant in the district to prevent any further disturbances and ensure the safety of officials and election infrastructure.

The Ramgarh episode is one among several instances in recent years where delayed results or perceived irregularities have led to unrest in the state, highlighting the sensitive nature of Bihar’s political contests and the need for timely communication from the Election Commission to maintain public trust.