Although the Election Commission has ensured that adequate security arrangements will be provided to the polling officials for conducting polls in the Red hit corridors, polling officials are actually terrorised as more and more news of Naxal attacks on polling parties during the polls are coming in. As polling dates for the second phase of polling in the Naxal infested areas of Jharkhand getting closer, anxiety prevails among the polling officials who do not exactly know where they will be deputed on the day of polling.
Reportedly an employee of Irrigation department died due to heart attack while standing in a queue for collecting EVM at Saria under Koderma lok Sabha constituency a day ahead of the first phase of polling in Jharkhand.
“All those who have been put on election duty in Giridih Assembly area are keeping their fingers crossed that are not sent to any of the booths in Pirtaand block as it is considered the worst hit among all the Naxal affected areas in the state,” said a teacher requesting anonymity who has been ordered to conduct polls in Giridih. The poll officials even have to travel on foot for over 15 km along with the EVMs and their own personal stuff for reaching out to their respective booths as they cannot take any vehicle in the interiors due to the landmine threat, he added.
“We have written to the authorities to provide us adequate security at the polling booths or we will not be able to conduct polls,” added another Giridih based teacher.
In Ranchi also, a government employee was heard talking to one of his friend over phone also explains the terror factor among the poll officials. He said, “I have been given poll duty in Murhu area, I will definitely see you if succeeded to come alve.”
Psychological experts are of the view that employees of only sound health must only be sent to the sensitive areas for polling duty. “Officials who have a past history of any such disease like high blood pressure, heart problem or any other chronic disorder should not be sent to the sensitive areas as it will tend to further increase their problem out of anxiety or fear,” said former RINPAS Director Amol Ranjan.
According to Ranjan, officials posted in the faraway remote areas generally get sleep and appetite disorder or may have to face increased precipitation which will finally lead to the panic attack to those who are already having a past history of high blood pressure, diabetes or heart trouble. “Sometimes physical and psychological manifestation gets intermingled which might further complicate the problem,” he added.