nOverall peaceful polling was held in the final phase of three- tier Panchayat election on Monday. People came out in good numbers to exercise their franchise.
In Maoist-hit Bastar region amid tight security arrangements polling was held and no untoward incident was reported except a SSB jawan committing suicide in Antagarh.
Police deployed drones in certain sensitive part of insurgency-hit Bastar region to keep a strict vigil during the polls.
According to state election commission in the third and final phase, for 33,986 posts of Panch 84,695 candidates were in the fray while for 4,082 Sarpanch posts 17,978 candidates filed nominations.
Likewise, for 1082 posts of Janpad member 4746 candidates were in the contest. For 143 posts of Zila Panchayat member there were 693 candidates in the fray, thus a total of 1,08,112 candidates were seeking mandate in this election.
Meanwhile, state government claimed that as compared to last Panchayat polls this year the polling was more peaceful.
“In highly sensitive Surnar region of South Bastar as compared to 26 per cent polling in 2015 this year 54 percent voting was registered. Likewise, considerable increase in voting percent was reported in Chikpal and Tumkapal after opening of police camps over there,” an official press statement released by the state government said.
In Surnar, 12 Maoist including one carrying cash reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, who had surrendered few days back, also came to vote, officials claimed.
Meanwhile, IG Bastar informed that in the entire election duration one former assistant constable who was husband of Sarpanch in Kadenar of Bijapur was killed by Naxals.
While in 2015, in Bastar region 53 Naxal incidents were reported, including the attacks on polling party in Kanker and Sukma districts, three firing incidents on security forces in Kanker, killing of a candidate in Dantewada. Apart from it at 30 places Maoists had tried to snatch ballot boxes in Sukma, officials stated.