The Election Commission has stepped up security measures deploying 156 companies of Central Paramilitary Forces and around 27,000 policemen besides three helicopters in over 50 Maoist-hit Assembly constituencies going to polls on Thursday.
According to official sources, 21 Assembly segments have been identified as highly affected by left Wing Extremism (lWE), while 15 are moderately affected and 20 less affected.Apart from the security forces, three helicopters have been pressed into election duty, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mona Sharma.
After death of three CRPF jawans in a landmine blast on Wednesday in Aerobor forest area in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district bordering Malkangiri, the security has been beefed up in the district to avoid any untoward incident.Inspector General, South Western Range, Y K Jethwa, who looks into the security arrangement in Maoist-hit Koraput and Malkangiri districts, said, “We have been taking all measures to deal with the situation if any.”