Thaindian News

Nagpur, Oct 13 (IANS) Voting in at least 11 polling stations in two assembly constituencies of Gadchiroli has not started following a scare early Tuesday morning when Maoists opened fire in the area, an election official said.
“So far, as per our confirmed information, polling had not been taken up till 2 p.m. in 11 polling stations of Aheri and Armori constituencies, both in Gadchiroli,” the official told IANS.

Though the election officials and security personnel were present, the voters - mainly tribals - did not feel safe enough to venture out of their homes to go to the polling stations and exercise their franchise, he said.

In order to tackle the situation, additional forces had been summoned. These were expected to reach there by air soon.

He said that in case the electorate did not get sufficient time, then the polling would be held on another suitable date.

Maoists had struck in two areas in Gadchiroli Tuesday morning. In the first instance, they fired several rounds near Aheri minutes before polling started.

Later, around 9.30 a.m., Maoists fired in Bondhai village in the district, despite the presence of stringent security in the Maoist infested districts of eastern Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region.

Last Thursday, a group of over 150 Maoists had killed 17 policemen in an ambush in Bhamragad sub-district.

On Monday, Director-General of Police (Anti-Corruption Bureau) A.N. Roy had warned that they had received intelligence reports indicating Maoists had infiltrated the state from neighbouring states with an intention of creating trouble during the elections Tuesday.

Till 1 p.m., nearly 23 percent of the total 7.60 crore voters in the state had cast their votes, as per the latest figures available with the state Election Commission.