Ballot defeated the bullet in the naxal prone areas of Hazaribagh district in the third phase of election held on Tuesday. More voter turnout in the Maoist hit areas of Hazaribagh, Barkagaon, Sadar, Barhi, Mandu and Barkattha assembly segments gave a clear cut message that people have faith in the democratic system of the country. DC cum Returning Officer Sunil Kumar informed that the overall percentage of voting in Hazaribagh district was recorded 62.76 per cent.
In those parts of Barkagon assembly segment which falls in Hazaribagh district people came out in large numbers to use their right in Maoist hit Keradari and Barkagaon blocks, where the ultras had given call of poll boycott, 67.10 per cent polling was recorded which is the maximum in Hazaribagh district. Here no effect was seen of this threat on the polling booths.
long queues were seen at polling stations in all assembly segments of Hazaribagh. It shows that the public still has faith on democracy. Women, elderly people and physically challenged persons turned up in large numbers to exercise their voting right.
In Maoist affected areas of Barkattha assembly segment, the voters turned up in huge number. No unwanted incident was reported from the parts of Barkattha segment which comes under jurisdiction of Hazaribagh district. The polling percentage was 65.1 per cent here.
In Sadar assembly segment the percentage of voter turnout was very slow in the morning. As the time passed the number of voters increased in every booth. The percentage of voters in rural areas was higher in comparison to the urban areas. Katkamsandi and Katkamdag are left ultras affected blocks in Sadar segment.
The polling was very peaceful in both the blocks. The percentage of poll in Sadar assembly was recorded the lowest 58.5 per cent.
The major portion of Mandu assembly segment is affected with the Maoist activities. In whole assembly segment polling was very peaceful. No untoward incident was reported from this constituency also. The percentage of polling recorded here was 60.07.
The Chouparan block of Barhi assembly segment is known as most affected with Maoist activities. But here too peaceful polling with heavy turnout proved people’s faith in democracy. The percentage of polling in Barhi remained 65.27 per cent.