‘Risk, low voter turnout’: Choppers ferry poll officials in Maoist-hit Bastar

On November 4, three days ahead of the assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, a dozen polling officials flew to the state’s highly sensitive polling stations in the Moaist-hit Bastar division from its headquarters in Narayanpur. 

Two Indian Air Force helicopters from the grounds of Narayanpur’s Government Boys Higher Secondary School ferried the officials to the polling booths, with EVM machines and other important documents, for security reasons. 

On the same day, BJP’s Narayanpur leader Ratna Dubey was hacked to death as two Moaists reportedly stabbed him with a sharp weapon while he was campaigning in a local market. Two days before this, three villagers were killed in Kanker by the Moaists. 

Moaist leaders in the region have announced a boycott of the polls, with posters warning the candidates of dire consequences. 

The Moaist boycott is imposed ahead of every election. Meanwhile, the polling staff usually take roadways to reach their booths. But officials said travelling by road in the Moaist-belt “can be dangerous”.

Several polling stations in Bastar are affected by Maoism. In Narayanpur itself, there are 126 sensitive polling stations here. Out of these, 29 are highly sensitive — susceptible to Moaist attacks. 

Shiv Mandavi, a government school teacher and polling official, who has been assigned a polling booth in Narayanpur’s Orchha told Newslaundry there was “no fear” as they were commuting by air. “I was scared of going by road. But now we are being taken by helicopter, so there is no fear.” 

Mandavi said he has conducted polls in the highly sensitive areas of Kundla and Dhaudai in the past two elections. “Both the times we went by road. On the way to Dhaudaai for the 2013 polls, we must have travelled 10-15 kilometres further when firing began in an area…Nothing happened to anyone, but I was scared. After all, life is dear to everyone.”

Amid the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, two Moaist attacks took place in Bastar and Bijapur districts on the same day. Around 15 people were killed in this attack, including six soldiers, seven polling officials, an ambulance driver and a medical assistant. Several others were also injured.

In Bijapur, the bus by which the polling officials were travelling to Bijapur was blown up by the Moaists.

Meanwhile, in 2013 assembly elections, a team of polling officials were attacked in Dantewada district. A security personnel was killed in the incident. Polling experts said election staff are usually targeted by the Moaists on their return after the polls.

Sudesh Soni, a government school teacher who has conducted polls in highly sensitive areas at least five times, said: “Till now, we used to go to the polling booths by road under police protection. There is less danger while going, but returning back is more risky.” 

Soni was one of the polling officials in the 2011 by-elections, after the death of senior BJP leader and Bastar MP Baliram Kashyap. “While returning after the polls, we had to go to Dhore Dangal from Kanar village. But the Moaists started firing in Gauragarh. We were walking on foot and there was continuous firing.”

Narayanpur SP Pushkar Sharma said in view of the Moaist threat, the polling teams of certain areas are being transported through helicopters. “So they can conduct the polls properly.”

Bastar division IG Sundar Raj P told Newslaundry that the DRG, Cobra, CRPF and ITBP forces have been deployed in the region.  “Due to security reasons, I cannot tell how much force we have deployed. But all the security arrangements have been made in consultation with the Election Commission. We expect to conduct peaceful polls.”

On the training and facilities provided to the polling staff ahead of the polls, government teacher Shiv Mandavi said they had been given a “primary kit”. “Those who have heart or BP disease, they have been given training. If any problem arises, we are ready to deal with it.”

Another election official said the polling staff have been insured by the government. “The insurance amount is Rs 45 lakh.” 

Watch.

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