Polling peaceful in Maharashtra: Police chief

Except for two minor firing incidents in naxal-hit Gadchiroli district, polling in Maharashtra is by and large peaceful, Director General of Police in-charge of elections, A N Roy said.

Except for two minor firing incidents in naxal-hit Gadchiroli district, polling in Maharashtra is by and large peaceful, Director General of Police in-charge of elections, A N Roy said.

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Roy said police had received reports of firing in Kasansur and Bonde villages, but there was no casualty.

"There has been no exchange of fire between Naxals and policemen," Roy told PTI denying media reports about a police team coming under naxal attack in Gadchiroli.

"At Kasansur and Bonde, villagers heard firing shots following which they complained to the police. The villagers claimed that Naxals opened fire. That is all," he said.

The polling process was not disturbed, Roy said, adding barring stray incidents of skirmishes between supporters of rival candidates polling in the entire state was peaceful.

Earlier reports said that Naxalites opened fire near Kasansur shortly before polling commenced. Police, however, did not return the fire as part of strategy since Naxalites were not visible as they were hiding in forest, police said.

After firing was reported in Bonde village, reinforcements were rushed by a chopper, Roy said.