The voting for the first phase of the Chhattisgarh assembly elections began on Tuesday morning under tight security, including in the Naxalite-hit Bastar division. Polling began at 7 a.m. in 10 of the 20 assembly constituencies, while for the remaining, the voting began at 8 a.m.
Till 9.30 am, around 10 per cent turnout was recorded in the 20 constituencies, PTI quoted election officials as saying.
While the voter turnout at Naxal-affected Dantewada was 10.18 per cent, it was 4.21 per cent in the Sukma district. In Kanker, the voting percentage was 16.48%.
Due to security reasons, 149 polling stations in five assembly constituencies of the Bastar division were shifted to the nearest police station and security camps. Police said naxal activities are being monitored through drones and helicopters, while bomb disposal teams and dog squads will be roped in as and when required.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that Naxalism has retreated to a great extent with the work done in five years. He said there would be a high voting percentage in naxal-affected areas.
"Earlier, big incidents used to happen, now small incidents are happening. I think this will also stop in the future. Naxalism has retreated to a great extent with the work we have done in five years. As a result, polling booths have been set up inside villages. People will vote in their village itself. There is a possibility of high voting percentage in naxal-affected areas," Baghel told PTI.
Meanwhile, the naxal-affected Karigundam area, part of the Dantewada (ST) constituency, voted after 23 years on Tuesday morning. The polling process is being held under the security cover by the CRPF 150 Battalion and District Force, reported ANI.
The Dantewada was won by the BJP's Bhima Mandavi in 2018. Mandavi and four of his security personnel were killed on Tuesday when their convoy was attacked by suspected Maoists in Dantewada district. The attack came two days before the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
This time the BJP is represented by Chaitram Ata former member of the now outlawed Sulwa Judum movement. The Congress candidate is Chhavindra Karma, son of Mahendra Karma who was a minister in the Congress government. Mahendra Karma too was killed in a Naxal attack.
CRPF commando injured
A commando of CoBRA, an elite unit of CRPF, was injured on Tuesday in an IED blast triggered by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district. The incident occurred when a joint team of CRPF and Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA) 206th battalion was out on an area domination operation from Tondamarka camp towards Elmagunda village to ensure security during polls, a senior police official said.
During patrolling, Inspector Shrikant belonging to CoBRA 206th battalion, inadvertently stepped over the IED, planted by Naxalites, leading to the explosion and causing injuries to him, the official said. The area falls under the Konta assembly segment.