Ranchi, Dec 20 (IANS) The authorities in Jharkhand are patting their backs for the smooth conduct of staggered assembly polls as a Maoist-inspired bloodbath had been feared.
“We created a good environment for polling by ensuring security cover to people,” Jharkhand’s Joint Election Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sinha told IANS.

“In Maoist strongholds, about 500 critical polling booths were reallocated for security reasons.”

In the April-May Lok Sabha battle, Maoists had gone on the rampage killing 19 people. With a higher voted turnout expected in the assembly elections in November-December, the killings were expected to shoot up.

But the number of violent incidents dramatically came down, leaving only five people dead over the five-phased balloting, even as the voting percentage rose from 53 to 58 percent. The polls ended Dec 18.

All the five killed in the assembly elections were security personnel.

The first life was lost Dec 2 in the second phase of elections in Giridih district. In the third phase, two Border Security Force (BSF) men were killed in Maoist firing in Dumka. In the fifth and final round Dec 18, two more security personnel were killed in separate incidents.

According to informed sources, the Jharkhand Police and the Election Commission changed strategy to ensure peaceful polling.

Police avoided roads where Maoist ambushes and landmine assaults were likely and used helicopters to airlift officials to polling booths.

A total of six helicopters — four of the Indian Air Force and two of BSF — were pressed into service. Throughout the staggered election, helicopters were engaged for air surveillance.

Since Maoist rebels were believed to have planted landmines on non-tarred roads, the road movement of security forces was restricted and helicopters were used to ferry them, said a police source.

During the assembly polls, roads leading to polling booths were guarded by the security forces, which also protected highways by taking up positions on trees and staging flag marches.

“We provided security cover to both polling officials and people, resulting in a high turnout of voters,” Jharkhand police spokesman V.H. Deshmukh told IANS.

Counting of votes will take place Wednesday.