New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Around 27 percent of candidates in the third phase of Bihar assembly elections have a criminal record, a report by a think tank said on Monday.

According to the Association for Democratic Reform (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW), of the 808 candidates, 215, or 27 percent, have declared criminal cases against them.

Of these, 162, or 20 percent, have declared serious criminal cases, including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping, and crimes against women.

The report said that at least 31 candidates have declared cases related to murder.

In their respective affidavits, Ajay Kumar, an independent candidate from Kumhrarh constituency, has declared eight charges related to murder, while Rajeev Ranjan Singh of the Samras Samaj Party from Digha constituency has declared seven charges related to murder.

Pradeep Kumar of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) from Dumraon constituency and Anant Kumar Singh, an independent candidate from Mokama constituency, have each declared five charges related to murder against them.

Voting for the third phase is scheduled for October 28.