Bijapur/Sukma: With tight security, officials on Tuesday began the exercise to airlift polling personnel by helicopters to Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, where voting will be held in the first phase of elections on April 19.
The senior official said that the authorities have started sending electronic voting machines (EVMs) to polling parties in sensitive areas of Bijapur and Sukma districts.
Bijapur and Sukma districts, located in the southern part of Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, have in the past witnessed several incidents of Naxal attacks on security personnel during elections.
Bijapur Collector Anurag Pandey said that a total of 245 polling booths have been set up for the general elections in Bijapur, out of which 99 booths in the interior areas have been shifted (to safe places).
He said around 76 polling parties would be airlifted to their destinations by helicopters and the exercise began on Tuesday, three days before polling.He said the teams reaching their destination before the polling day will stay at the nearest camp of security forces.
Pandey said, all preparations have been made to ensure peaceful voting.
Talking about the security arrangements, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav said adequate security personnel have been deployed for the elections in the district, and searches and area dominance operations have been intensified.
Another official said polling teams were also being sent to neighboring Sukma district.
He said at least 27 polling teams and EVMS would be transported by helicopters on Tuesday.Elections for the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4.
Bastar is the only Lok Sabha constituency where voting will take place in the first phase on April 19, while Mahasamund, Rajnandgaon and Kanker (ST), which also have Naxalite presence in some areas, will go to polls on April 26.
The remaining seven seats – Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Raigarh (ST), Korba Janjgir-Champa (SC) and Surguja (ST) – will go to polls in the final phase on May 7.
Earlier, an official of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Raipur said that in view of the Maoist threat and geographical location, transportation of polling personnel to 167 polling stations in the Lok Sabha constituencies of Bastar (ST), Kanker (ST) and Mahasamund had been ordered. Helicopters will be used to travel. Place.He said that as per the plan, 919 polling personnel will be sent by helicopter to 156 polling stations in Bastar, and 84 personnel will be sent to nine polling stations in Kanker seat and two polling stations in Gariaband area of Mahasamund seat.
During the assembly elections last year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) flew 404 sorties with eight Mi-17 helicopters for six days, deploying 853 polling crew members in five districts of Bastar division - Sukma, Bijapur, Kanker, And evacuation became easier.Dantewada and Narayanpur.
The senior official said that the authorities have started sending electronic voting machines (EVMs) to polling parties in sensitive areas of Bijapur and Sukma districts.
Bijapur and Sukma districts, located in the southern part of Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, have in the past witnessed several incidents of Naxal attacks on security personnel during elections.
Bijapur Collector Anurag Pandey said that a total of 245 polling booths have been set up for the general elections in Bijapur, out of which 99 booths in the interior areas have been shifted (to safe places).
He said around 76 polling parties would be airlifted to their destinations by helicopters and the exercise began on Tuesday, three days before polling.He said the teams reaching their destination before the polling day will stay at the nearest camp of security forces.
Pandey said, all preparations have been made to ensure peaceful voting.
Talking about the security arrangements, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav said adequate security personnel have been deployed for the elections in the district, and searches and area dominance operations have been intensified.
Another official said polling teams were also being sent to neighboring Sukma district.
He said at least 27 polling teams and EVMS would be transported by helicopters on Tuesday.Elections for the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4.
Bastar is the only Lok Sabha constituency where voting will take place in the first phase on April 19, while Mahasamund, Rajnandgaon and Kanker (ST), which also have Naxalite presence in some areas, will go to polls on April 26.
The remaining seven seats – Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Raigarh (ST), Korba Janjgir-Champa (SC) and Surguja (ST) – will go to polls in the final phase on May 7.
Earlier, an official of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Raipur said that in view of the Maoist threat and geographical location, transportation of polling personnel to 167 polling stations in the Lok Sabha constituencies of Bastar (ST), Kanker (ST) and Mahasamund had been ordered. Helicopters will be used to travel. Place.He said that as per the plan, 919 polling personnel will be sent by helicopter to 156 polling stations in Bastar, and 84 personnel will be sent to nine polling stations in Kanker seat and two polling stations in Gariaband area of Mahasamund seat.
During the assembly elections last year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) flew 404 sorties with eight Mi-17 helicopters for six days, deploying 853 polling crew members in five districts of Bastar division - Sukma, Bijapur, Kanker, And evacuation became easier.Dantewada and Narayanpur.
