Simmering tension in Naxal-hit constituency in Bihar

Simmering tension in Maoist-hit Imamganj constituency could well prove a tough challenge for security agencies as it goes to polls in the sixth and last phase of Bihar assembly elections on Saturday.

Imamganj: Simmering tension in Maoist-hit
Imamganj constituency could well prove a tough challenge for
security agencies as it goes to polls in the sixth and last
phase of Bihar assembly elections on Saturday.

Campaigning will end tomorrow, but the usual
hustle-bustle associated with electioneering is conspicuously
missing.

"There will be no election campaigning in the
interiors. Who will take the risk? Public meetings were held
only in block headquarters of Dumaria, Imamganj and Banker
Bazar," says Shiv Shankar Singh, a close confidant of Bihar
Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary who represents the
constituency in the outgoing assembly.

Posters calling for poll boycott were found pasted
even in Imamganj bazaar a few days back.

The fears are not unfounded. The ultras abducted three
JD-U workers included Du maria Block President of the party
during campaigning in the first week of this month and and
killed one them.

JD-U worker Amrendra Prasad`s body was thrown in a
school campus, about 7 kms from Dumaria police station.

The Maoists had managed to halt voting in
Chhakharbandha area even during the last poll which was held
under the supervision of K J Rao, the Secretary of the then
Chief Election Commissioner.

In Chhakharbandha, Arvan and Salaya, polling parties
had failed to reach the booths. In Feb 2005 elections, three
persons were killed in Dighasin. In the same election, LJP
candidate and former Gaya MP Rajesh Manjhi was shot dead by naxalites near Bikua More in the constituency.
Chaudhary has represented this constituency four times
since 1990. He scored hat-trick by winning it three times
since 2000. Even in 1995, he lost the election with a slender
margin to Ramswaroop Paswan.

The former JD-U leader, however, has found the going
tough this time with Maoists "banning" his entry in the assembly segment.
Ironically, Chaudhary has in the past been accused by
his rivals of supporting Maoists. His name was also dragged
into the killing former Gaya MP Rajesh Kumar, who was
candidate against him in February 2005 Bihar polls on LJP
ticket.

Bureau Report

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