Bhubaneswar: With Maoist influence being
experienced in 12 of the 30 districts of Orissa, the State
Election Commission (SEC) on Wednesday said central para-military
force (CPMF) need to be deployed in certain highly sensitive
areas for conduct of smooth rural polls next month.
"The state government will take up the matter
relating to requirement of CPMF with the centre. The state`s
elite anti-naxal force like special operation group (SOG) and
newly raised battalions will be deployed for conduct of smooth
polling," said state election commissioner A K Tripathy.
Tripathy, who reviewed law and order situation at a
conference of district collectors and superintendents of
police, attended by Director General of Police (DGP) and home
secretary, said all steps would be taken to ensure free and
fair elections to the three tier panchayat bodies scheduled to
be held in five phases from February 5 to 19.
Some of the collectors and SPs apprised the SEC about
inaccessibility of certain areas and expressed fear of Maoist
attack on the polling personnel and ballot boxes.
"The SEC is considering use of helicopter for movement
of poll personnel to inaccessible areas," a senior official
said adding that the ballot boxes in areas affected by Left
Wing Extremism (LEW) could be stored in different police
camps.
PTI
