Raipur/Jagdalpur: Naxal-hit Bastar in Chhattisgarh recorded 65.29 per cent voting in the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, even as a CRPF jawan was killed and an officer injured in an IED when a grenade exploded accidentally. The explosion, officials said.
However, the turnout figure may increase as final figures are yet to come from many booths, he said.
Voter turnout in the sprawling constituency stood at 66.04 percent in 2019. “A provisional turnout of 65.29 percent was recorded, but the figure may increase as final data is yet to come from many booths,” the official said.,
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan on security duty was killed when a shell from an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) accidentally exploded in Galgam village under Usoor police station area of Bijapur district, he said.
He said that the incident took place when the security personnel were out on area domination exercise near a polling booth. He said, "Constable Devendra Kumar of 196th battalion of CRPF was seriously injured in the blast and was airlifted to Jagdalpur. , but he died during treatment."
Police said that in another incident this time, a CRPF Assistant Commandant was injured when a Pressure Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Naxalites exploded in Bhairamgarh police station area of Bijapur district.
The blast took place near Chihka polling station under Bhairamgarh police station limits when a team of security personnel was on an operation in the area in view of the voting.During the exercise, Manu HC, assistant commandant of CRPF's 62nd battalion, came in contact with the pressure IED, which led to the explosion and he sustained injuries on his left leg and hand, he said.
Voting ended at 3 pm at booths in Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Chitrakote, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta assembly constituencies and 72 centers in Jagdalpur assembly constituency under Bastar Lok Sabha seat, he said.
Voting took place from 7 am to 5 pm at booths in Bastar assembly constituency and 175 centers in Jagdalpu assembly constituency, the official said. At least 60,000 state and paramilitary force personnel were deployed across the constituency to ensure peaceful voting. it was done.
He said that residents of 56 villages voted for the first time in the Lok Sabha elections at the polling stations set up in their villages.
Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said in a conversation that the preliminary work of general elections on Bastar seat has been completed peacefully and systematically and now our focus is on deployment of security forces and completing the remaining work related to voting.Hold parties safely. He said that maximum polling parties have returned to the strong rooms of their respective district headquarters and the remaining parties are also expected to arrive later.
He said that except two unfortunate incidents in Bijapur, no major untoward incident took place during the first phase of elections.
He said, "Peaceful general elections have been conducted in Bastar due to the coordinated efforts of the local administration, state police, Central Armed Police Forces and forces of neighboring states." In this battle of "ballot versus bullet", the IG said, ultimately the ballot paper was successful. Will emerge as meaningful and powerful.
The senior IPS officer said, “Despite repeated boycott and threatening calls by the Maoists, there was great enthusiasm and commitment among the people of Bastar, who reached the polling stations in large numbers.,
According to the police, four encounters took place in eight assembly constituencies, part of the Bastar Lok Sabha seat, in the 2023 assembly elections, resulting in injuries to four security personnel. A newly married couple, Devesh Thakur and Gangotri Thakur, got married when they got married at the Guria booth in Narayanpur district. When he came to vote in costume, all eyes were on him.
Defying Naxalites' call to boycott elections, villagers were seen standing in queues to cast their votes at a polling booth in remote Chandameta in Basta district.
The theme of environment conservation was held at Balud polling station in Dantewada district, where officials gave out saplings to voters to create awareness about conservation. A total of 14,72,207 voters, including 7,71,679 women, 7,00,476 men and 5 Transgenders were eligible to exercise their franchise in a seat where 1 candidate was in the fray.Officials said 1,961 polling stations were set up in the constituency, of which 61 have been classified as "unsafe" and 196 as "critical".
The main contest was between flamboyant Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma and BJ candidate Mahesh Kashyap, a new face. In 2019, Congress had won from Bastar. The remaining 10 seats of Chhattisgarh will be voted in the second phase (26 April) and the third phase (7 May).
However, the turnout figure may increase as final figures are yet to come from many booths, he said.
Voter turnout in the sprawling constituency stood at 66.04 percent in 2019. “A provisional turnout of 65.29 percent was recorded, but the figure may increase as final data is yet to come from many booths,” the official said.,
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan on security duty was killed when a shell from an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) accidentally exploded in Galgam village under Usoor police station area of Bijapur district, he said.
He said that the incident took place when the security personnel were out on area domination exercise near a polling booth. He said, "Constable Devendra Kumar of 196th battalion of CRPF was seriously injured in the blast and was airlifted to Jagdalpur. , but he died during treatment."
Police said that in another incident this time, a CRPF Assistant Commandant was injured when a Pressure Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Naxalites exploded in Bhairamgarh police station area of Bijapur district.
The blast took place near Chihka polling station under Bhairamgarh police station limits when a team of security personnel was on an operation in the area in view of the voting.During the exercise, Manu HC, assistant commandant of CRPF's 62nd battalion, came in contact with the pressure IED, which led to the explosion and he sustained injuries on his left leg and hand, he said.
Voting ended at 3 pm at booths in Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Chitrakote, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta assembly constituencies and 72 centers in Jagdalpur assembly constituency under Bastar Lok Sabha seat, he said.
Voting took place from 7 am to 5 pm at booths in Bastar assembly constituency and 175 centers in Jagdalpu assembly constituency, the official said. At least 60,000 state and paramilitary force personnel were deployed across the constituency to ensure peaceful voting. it was done.
He said that residents of 56 villages voted for the first time in the Lok Sabha elections at the polling stations set up in their villages.
Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said in a conversation that the preliminary work of general elections on Bastar seat has been completed peacefully and systematically and now our focus is on deployment of security forces and completing the remaining work related to voting.Hold parties safely. He said that maximum polling parties have returned to the strong rooms of their respective district headquarters and the remaining parties are also expected to arrive later.
He said that except two unfortunate incidents in Bijapur, no major untoward incident took place during the first phase of elections.
He said, "Peaceful general elections have been conducted in Bastar due to the coordinated efforts of the local administration, state police, Central Armed Police Forces and forces of neighboring states." In this battle of "ballot versus bullet", the IG said, ultimately the ballot paper was successful. Will emerge as meaningful and powerful.
The senior IPS officer said, “Despite repeated boycott and threatening calls by the Maoists, there was great enthusiasm and commitment among the people of Bastar, who reached the polling stations in large numbers.,
According to the police, four encounters took place in eight assembly constituencies, part of the Bastar Lok Sabha seat, in the 2023 assembly elections, resulting in injuries to four security personnel. A newly married couple, Devesh Thakur and Gangotri Thakur, got married when they got married at the Guria booth in Narayanpur district. When he came to vote in costume, all eyes were on him.
Defying Naxalites' call to boycott elections, villagers were seen standing in queues to cast their votes at a polling booth in remote Chandameta in Basta district.
The theme of environment conservation was held at Balud polling station in Dantewada district, where officials gave out saplings to voters to create awareness about conservation. A total of 14,72,207 voters, including 7,71,679 women, 7,00,476 men and 5 Transgenders were eligible to exercise their franchise in a seat where 1 candidate was in the fray.Officials said 1,961 polling stations were set up in the constituency, of which 61 have been classified as "unsafe" and 196 as "critical".
The main contest was between flamboyant Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma and BJ candidate Mahesh Kashyap, a new face. In 2019, Congress had won from Bastar. The remaining 10 seats of Chhattisgarh will be voted in the second phase (26 April) and the third phase (7 May).