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Suspected naxalites disrupt panchayat election in Orissa districts
Suspected naxalites disrupted polling in Mayurbhanj and Rayagada districts as an estimated 70 per cent of the 54 lakh-strong electorate exercised their franchise in the third phase of the three-tier panchayat elections in Orissa on Saturday.
Suspected naxalites disrupted polling in Mayurbhanj and Rayagada districts as an estimated 70 per cent of the 54 lakh-strong electorate exercised their franchise in the third phase of the three-tier panchayat elections in Orissa on Saturday.
The ultras, armed with pistols and sharp weapons, stormed three booths at Kalapani, Naharada and Bambada villages under Jamda block in Mayurbhanj district bordering Jharkhand causing panic in the area. They forcibly stamped some ballot papers and took away some more forcing polling to be suspended.
When the presiding officer at Kalapani booth resisted the naxalites, he was assaulted and injured. He was admitted to the government hospital at Bahalda for treatment.
The naxalites also visited two booths at Digha and Mahisakud villages under the same block and threatened the villagers with dire consequences if they voted. The villagers did not turn up at the booths subsequently.
The Rairangpur sub-collector, Umakanta Nayak, and the observer, S N Tripathy, later visited the booths. According to the secretary of the state election commission, P K Chaulia, activists of the Kui Labanga Samaj, said to be an outfit backed by the naxalites, threatened the polling personnel at a booth at Bechudi village under Gudari block and three booths under Chandrapur block in the southern district of Rayagada. The polling personnel returned after the incident.
The Election Commission had decided to hold the repoll in the four booths on Sunday while adequate security was being provided, Chaulia told reporters.
Bureau Report
When the presiding officer at Kalapani booth resisted the naxalites, he was assaulted and injured. He was admitted to the government hospital at Bahalda for treatment.
The naxalites also visited two booths at Digha and Mahisakud villages under the same block and threatened the villagers with dire consequences if they voted. The villagers did not turn up at the booths subsequently.
The Rairangpur sub-collector, Umakanta Nayak, and the observer, S N Tripathy, later visited the booths. According to the secretary of the state election commission, P K Chaulia, activists of the Kui Labanga Samaj, said to be an outfit backed by the naxalites, threatened the polling personnel at a booth at Bechudi village under Gudari block and three booths under Chandrapur block in the southern district of Rayagada. The polling personnel returned after the incident.
The Election Commission had decided to hold the repoll in the four booths on Sunday while adequate security was being provided, Chaulia told reporters.
Bureau Report