The death toll from a major day of voting in the world's biggest election rose to nine Friday, according to police, who say suspected rebels killed five paramilitary soldiers and four polling officials who were traveling on buses after conducting balloting in two Indian states.

The violence happened Thursday when Maoist insurgents triggered a roadside land mine blast and then fired at those going in one of the buses near Shikaripada, a village in eastern Jharkhand state.

Five paramilitary soldiers and three polling officials carrying voting machines were killed in the attack.

Suspected rebels also fatally shot an Indian poll official and wounded four other people in an attack on another bus in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir in the north.

With 814 million eligible voters, India is voting in phases over six weeks, with results expected May 16. Thursday's violence came as millions of people turned out in 11 states for the second-biggest day of voting in the election.

(Associated Press)