Urging the people to boycott the elections, the Maoists on Wednesday gave a bandh call in four districts, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Gajapati, on Thursday, the day these areas go to the polls.
In an audio release to the media, Maoist leader and secretary of the CPI Maoist of Bansadhara, Nagabali and Ghumusar divisions Umakant said the leaders of the Congress, BJP and the ruling BJD have been hoodwinking the people of the State for years.
He called on the people to reject the ruling BJD Government that has exploited the tribals by handing over the forest, land, water and mines to the multi-national companies during its 14-year stint in power.
According to reports, several Maoists posters have been found in Khadial area of Nuapada district. The posters, signed in the name of Balangir-Bargarh Mahasamund Division, have urged the people to boycott the elections.
“Out of a total of 1,301 booths in Kalahandi district, 153 booths have been identified as hyper sensitive where the district administration has beefed up three-tier security,” said Kalahandi SP Sarthak Sarangi.
In Malkangiri, the Maoists have dug up roads at several places under the Mathili block along Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.
According to reports, the left wings ultras have prevented movement of traffic by digging up roads at Mahupadar, Kamalapalli, Salimi, Tulasipadar, Haldikund, Tembapalli and Kasrabhata of Mathili block where they have put up posters and banners urging people to boycott the elections. They have also warned the polling officials of trial in ‘praja courts’ if they do not stay away from duty. Meanwhile, three CRPF jawans were killed and three others seriously injured in a landmine blast on Wednesday in Aerobor forested area in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district bordering Malkangiri, reports said. The jawans were part of a combing operation exercise ahead of Thursday’s lok Sabha polls.
South Western IGP Yeswant Jethwa on Tuesday had said 34 Companies of Border Security Forces (BSF), eight units SOG, two units of COBRA, six flying squads, six static surveillance teams, 20 mobile units, 13 Quick Reaction Teams have deployed at different locations for prompt response to any attempts by the Maoists to disrupt polls.
The IGP said special measures have been adopted to prevent recurrence of snatching and burning of EVMs by Maoists like it had happened in the last general elections. Jethwa informed that joint operations have been intensified along the Andhra and Chhattisgarh border to thwart cross border infiltration of the ultras while two helicopters will provide aerial vigil during the polls.