Concerned that the Maoists are going to try deal a bloody blow to Chhattisgarh assembly election process, the home ministry has told Chhattisgarh to stay alert to the challenge till the end of the process and “aggressively” step-up operations against the guerrillas.
The home ministry advisory – the third over the last fortnight – comes in the backdrop of intelligence reports of “assiduous preparations” by the Maoists to mobilise cadres, plant explosives on the way to polling booths and asking tribals in Bastar region to either leave their villages or stop using main roads.
The Maoists – desperate to make an impact during the poll process – has promised rewards and promotions for its armed guerrillas for successful attacks.
Nearly 50,000 central police personnel have been deployed in Chhattisgarh for the two-phase elections on November 11 and 19. This is in addition to about 30,000 personnel deployed on anti-Maoist duties on a long-term basis.
“It is imperative that the government of Chhattisgarh may work in close coordination with Odisha and Maharashtra to keep an effect check on the cross border movement of naxals,” the home ministry advisory said, asking the security forces to remain in “mission mode” during the entire electoral process.
Intelligence agencies have also reported movement of large groups of armed Maoists in Narayanpur, Bijapur and Kanker districts. Inputs also indicated the presence of the CPI (Maoist) general secretary Ganapathy at a large meeting of the cadres in the state where small teams were assigned the task of identifying ambush points, planting bombs, detain polling parties and looting the voting machines.
{{/usCountry}}Intelligence agencies have also reported movement of large groups of armed Maoists in Narayanpur, Bijapur and Kanker districts. Inputs also indicated the presence of the CPI (Maoist) general secretary Ganapathy at a large meeting of the cadres in the state where small teams were assigned the task of identifying ambush points, planting bombs, detain polling parties and looting the voting machines.
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