Ranchi, May 9 (IANS): Nearly one-fourth of the candidates who are fighting the Lok Sabha polls in Jharkhand face criminal cases, including attempt to murder and murder.

In Jharkhand, polling is taking place in four phases. Two phases of polling have been completed and the remaining two phases will take place on May 12 and 19.

In the first two phases, there were 121 candidates and in the last two the number of candidates is 99.

Of a total of 220 candidates, 51 face criminal charges. Of these 51, 43 per cent face murder or attempt to murder and fraud cases, according to sources in the Election Commission.

The highest number of criminal cases are against Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) legislator and Godda Lok Sabha candidate Pradeep Yadav. As per his declaration to the Election Commission, he faces 13 cases, including attempt to murder.

A rape case has also been filed last week by a woman. On Thursday she recorded her statement in a Godda court.

In the third phase of polling in Jharkhand, the sixth overall nationwide, there are 67 candidates in three Lok Sabha seats - Godda, Dumka and Rajmahal. Of the 67, 20 face criminal cases. In the first two phases, 25 of the 121 candidates had criminal cases against them.