Naxals kill Cong worker, loot EVMs in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Nov 13 (UNI) Even as the Election Commission has ensured ''elaborate security'' in the naxalism-affected belt for tomorrow's first phase polling in Chhattisgarh and directed that every polling station would have ''static'' personnel, Maoists gunned down a Congress worker in Dantewada district and looted three electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Konta assembly constituency in keeping with their poll boycott call.

''Polling officials have been asked to ensure videography in their respective booths,'' said state Chief Electoral Officer Alok Shukla while refusing to disclose the number of personnel deployed.

Due to security reasons, polling teams for seven booths of insurgency-affected Bijapur district would be sent tomorrow morning.

Congress worker Trinath Thakur was gunned down while campaigning at Gadapal village. He died on the spot. The three EVMs were looted from a polling team heading on foot for Porjem, Maruki and Manakpal polling centres and the officials let off with a warning. Another team has been sent, as per Sukma's Returning Officer.

Police patrol parties were fired at in Bijapur district's Halur and Takilod village and a blast triggered. A base camp at Marud Baka was targeted with gunfire. Providentially there were no injuries.

UNI Team-AC 1953