Chhattisgarh seeks extra troopers for Bastar by-poll
April 25th, 2011 - 3:50 pm ICT by IANS
Raipur, April 25 (IANS) The Chhattisgarh government has sought at least 15,000 additional paramilitary troopers for the May 8 Lok Sabha by-election from the Maoist stronghold of Bastar, official sources said.
“We have briefed the Election Commission about the complexity of the situation in Bastar due to Maoists’ monopoly as roughly 80 percent of Bastar is covered by forests. We need at least 15,000 extra troopers to boost security to ensure smooth polling,” an official at the police headquarters here told IANS.
Chhattisgarh is amongst the states worst hit by the leftist insurgency. For almost three decades, Maoists have commanded the forested interiors of Bastar, carrying out several deadly attacks on forces and civilians post-2005 - including the massacre of 76 security personnel in Bastar region’s Dantewada district last April.
The official said police also needed six helicopters to back up forces with ready reinforcements in case of attack in areas inaccessible by road. In the last assembly polls held in the state in 2008, Maoists had fired at an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper and killed a sergeant.
“Holding polls in a peaceful manner is an extremely tough job in Bastar where a majority of the interior roads are planted with landmines. Hope we will be able to overcome Maoists challenges on May 8,” the official said.
The Lok Sabha bypoll from Bastar has been necessitated by the death of the state’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tribal leader and the sitting MP, Baliram Kashyap, last month.
There are eight candidates in the fray for the tribal reserved seat but the main contest is between BJP’s Dinesh Kashyap, the son of the late Baliram Kashyap, and the Congress’ Kawasi Lakhma.
Lakhma is legislator from Konta, one of the eight assembly seats that make up the Bastar parliamentary constituency.
- In Maoist bastion of Bastar, 200 polling booths relocated - Apr 28, 2011
- Bastar votes in by-poll amid Maoist firing (Lead) - May 08, 2011
- Bastar is ours, say both BJP and Congress - May 10, 2011
- BJP to step up campaigning in Bastar - Apr 25, 2011
- By-poll ahead, but no one's campaigning in Bastar interiors - May 03, 2011
- Eight candidates for Bastar Lok Sabha seat - Apr 22, 2011
- Bastar records 40 percent polling amid Maoist blasts, firing (Second Lead) - May 08, 2011
- Committed to restoring peace in Bastar: Raman Singh - May 05, 2011
- Polling begins for Bastar amid Maoist violence - May 08, 2011
- Battle for Bastar: tribal legislator threatens to dislodge BJP - May 07, 2011
- Congress says it will win Bastar by-poll - Apr 27, 2011
- Congress struggles to pick candidate for Bastar - Apr 07, 2011
- Campaigning ends for Chhattisgarh by-poll - May 06, 2011
- BJP leads in Bastar Lok Sabha seat - May 13, 2011
- BJP government has no control in Bastar: Ajit Jogi - Apr 30, 2011
Tags: assembly polls, assembly seats, bastar, chhattisgarh government, dinesh, election commission, indian air force, interior roads, kawasi, last assembly, Lok Sabha, maoist, maoists, parliamentary constituency, peaceful manner, police headquarters, security personnel, three decades, tough job, tribal leader