Jhargram gears up for elections amidst tightened security

Jhargram, Nov 30 (UNI) Law and order situation may turn hostile in four places, where municipal election is scheduled to be held today in view of the prolonged tribal unrest in the areas, warned SDO Jhargram Tanmoy Chakraborty.

''I have issued orders under Section 144 CrPC, prohibiting assembly of more than five people and carrying of arms,''he added.

More than 1,000 tribals, carrying their traditional weapons, marched the streets of Jhargram last night protesting against police atrocities following November 2 incident in the district where the convoy of the Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya was attempted.

More than 800 police personnel have been deployed in the area for the 46 booths, all of which, have been termed as 'Sensitive'.

Meanwhile, SDO said the polling personnel and the police officials have been brought from outside in trains and small vehicles, as all the road links have been either dug up or blocked by the tribals in the last few days. Polling personnel, armed with EVM machines, have already been sent to their respective booths, the SDO added.

Since the creation of Jhargram Municipality, twenty-five years back, all the municipal elections have been owned by the Left Front. Out of 17 seats in the Municipal area, eight were owned by the CPM and four by the CPI. Rest of the seats, went to Congress, TMC and the Jharkhand Party (Naren Group).

This year, however, for the first time, a 1:1 distribution of seats between the Opposition and the Left front has been obtained.

More than thirty per cent voters in the municipal area are tribal people.

UNI XC DBY PD KP1149