Peaceful First Phase Polling In Bargarh District Despite Maoist Boycott Threats

The first phase of polling for Panchayat elections in Maoist infested Paikmal and Jharabandh Blocks of Bargarh district concluded without any event on Wednesday despite threats issued by the Maoist ultras to boycott the elections.

22 Panchayat and three Zilla Parishad (ZP) zones in the Paikamal Block and 14 Panchayats and two ZP zones in Jharabandha Block went to polls on Wednesday in the first phase of the three-tier Panchayat elections that commenced on Wednesday.

70 polling booths in Paikamal and 25 booths in Jharabandh were declared sensitive in view of the Maoist threat. Adequate security was put in place by the Election Commission and district administration to meet exigencies.

Pertinent to mention here that Maoists violence witnessed a spurt in the recent days ahead of the Panchayat polls in a bid to disrupt the democratic process. The ultras put up posters and banners in Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Bargarh districts threatening people to boycott the polls.

Recently, a journalist belonging to a local vernacular daily was killed after a land mine put by the Maoists went off in Madanpur Rampur Block of Kalahandi district.

Similarly, a youth was killed when a landmine, laid by Maoists, exploded near Sadingia- Kiamunda under Phiringia police limits in Kandhamal district of Odisha on February 9, a day after the ultras killed the journalist in Kalahandi.

The Maoists were protesting the Panchayat polls and threatening the locals with dire consequences if they participated in the voting.