The Election Commission of India (ECI) will have a Herculean task ahead in Maoist heartland Bastar in the aftermath of the attack on the CRPF contingent even as it decided to hold lok Sabha polls on April 10 to bring its entire focus on advance deployment of adequate security personnel in the region.
Incidentally, the attack on the CRPF contingent took place not very far from the spot where almost the entire State Congress leadership was wiped out in a similar Maoist ambush in Jeeram valley on May 25 last year ahead of the Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh.
Tuesday’s swarming attack by Maoists on the ‘Road Opening Party’ (ROP) which led to the killing of 11 CRPF personnel, 4 of District Force and one villager in Jeeram valley is once again timed before polls in Chhattisgarh.
During the Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Maoists launched sporadic attacks on the security personnel during the first phase of polling on November 11 last year to disrupt voting in Bastar region.
However, a significantly large deployment of para military and State police force prevented any major attacks by the Maoists in Bastar region while resulting in a massive 75 per cent turnout of voters during the Assembly polls.
With Maoists known to intensify their attacks during summer months in Bastar, the ECI may go for higher level of intelligence inputs from the State’s Intelligence Bureau to oversee spread of force deployments in Bastar ahead of the polls.
The ECI may also issue a fresh advisory to the political parties planning to hold rallies and public meetings in Bastar in view of the Maoist attack on the CRPF team to co-ordinate with the State police and the central paramilitary forces for ensuring security of the people arriving at the venues and their leaders .