Violence disrupts polling in Bastar

Raipur, Nov 14: Polling process in at least six booths in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh has been disrupted today due to looting of Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs) and the Election Commission has been asked to order repolling in these booths.

Polling is underway today in 39 of the total 90 constituencies in the first phase under unprecedented tight security with 10 helicopters being deployed for aerial surveillance, state election office sources said. Maoist naxalites looted EVMs at Hagrawa village in Dantewada district after triggering a blast near the polling booth while the polling party had been kidnapped at two polling stations under Katekalyan police station area in the same district.

Sources said three EVMs along with poll materials had been looted from Sangam, Chote-Biteya and Regawahi booths under Antagarh assembly segment in Kanker disrict.

Tension prevailed at Sitam polling booth in Kanker district after detection of live bombs while voters of Gotahur polling booth had boycotted polling for non-development of the area.

Meanwhile, sources said that aerial monitoring of the polling process by the security officials and central observers were underway in the sensitive region.

Altogether 10 helicopters have been pressed into service in Bastar division to ferry the polling parties and for the aerial monitoring by the officials and central observers.

UNI