Security Tightened In Naxalism-Hit Areas Of Maharashtra & Chhattisgarh For Lok Sabha Polls Phase 1 Tomorrow

The polling in the Gadchiroli-Chimur and Narayanpur Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh respectively, will be held during the first phase on April 19.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections slated to begin on Friday, the security in the heavily forested Gadchiroli, a naxal-affected area in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur was tightened to maintain peace as both Lok Sabha constituencies are set to cast ballots during the first phase tomorrow (April 19). 

As the naxal-affected Narayanpur constituency will go to poll tomorrow, SP Prabhat Kumar ensured that the necessary security measures have been taken for a smooth polling process.

"The first phase of elections is going to be held in Narayanpur. We are prepared. It is a Naxalism-affected district, we have prepared accordingly. 45 companies have been provided. We have local forces, Bastar fighters. 73 police stations are hyper-sensitive, 51 are sensitive," Kumar stated.

Maharashtra's Gadchiroli-Chimur — A Naxal Hotbed 

Gadchiroli-Chimur, a hotbed of Naxalism, is an interstate junction for Naxals as it is located in a key area on the 'Red Corridor' and shares its borders with Naxalism-affected regions in Telangana and Chhattisgarh. The constituency covers parts of Gondiya district, Chandrapur district, and the entire Gadchiroli district. Formed in 2008, it is one of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra’s Vidharbha region.

The current MP from the constituency is Ashok Mahadeorao Nete of the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2014. Nete was preceded by Congress's Kowase Marutrao Sainu from 2009-14.

For the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party has fielded Ashok Mahadeorao Nete again from the Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha constituency, while the grand old party has fielded Namdev Dasaram Kirsan.

Chhattisgarh On High Alert After Biggest Ever Naxal Encounter

The security forces in the biggest-ever encounter in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district killed 29 Naxals on Thursday, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Three security personnel were also injured during the operation. The security forces also recovered a large quantity of weapons from the spot.

Following the fierce gun-battle, the security forces are combing through the Hapatola forest of Kanker. The encounter occurred between the Naxals and a joint team of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) in the forest areas between Koronar and Binagunda villages.

The Naxalite-hit Bastar Lok Sabha seat will vote in the first phase tomorrow, while the Kanker constituency will vote in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26.

Bastar is a Scheduled Tribe reserved constituency in the state. 

The saffron party has fielded Mahesh Kashyap while Congress has nominated Kawasi Lakhma from the Bastar seat. The regional Gondwana Gantantra Party has fielded Tikam Nagvanshi from the Lok Sabha seat.