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Naxalites threaten to disrupt poll in 3 MP districts

Following the Naxalites call for a boycott of the general election and the threat to candidates and poll officials, the police have been put on high alert in three districts of Madhya Pradesh.

The police in Balaghat, Rajanandgaon and Mandla districts were alerted after the People's War Group issued the threat.

Balaghat-based Deputy Inspector General of Police (anti-Naxalite operations) R L Amravansi told a correspondent that the police were taking steps to keep the areas in all three districts.

Security arrangements have been beefed up in these districts and a search was on to trace Tada Dalam commander Sunil Markamban and his 20-odd followers, including some female members.

Amravansi said tight security arrangements had been made for the safety of poll personnel and candidates and for the security of 600 sensitive polling stations including about 250 hypersensitive booths in the Naxalite-affected region.

"We will not allow the Naxalites to interfere with the Lok Sabha election in any manner," Amravanshi said.

He said the head of the anti-Naxalite operation, IGP S S Barbade was in Balaghat to oversee the operations.

Amravansi said a special strategy had also been chalked out to combat Naxalite-related activities in view of the Lok Sabha poll at a high-level meeting held at Rajnandgaon, the headquarters of Naxalite police zone.

He said there were three Naxalite Dalams, the Tada Dalam, Paraswada Dalam and Malajkhand Dalam operating in Balaghat, Rajanandgaon and Mandla districts . Out of these the Paraswada Dalam was more active as compared to others. Each dalam comprised about 12 Naxalites including three or four women, and all belonged to the PWG.

Pointing out that the police was making an intensive search for Tada Dalam commander.Sunil Markamban, Amravanshi said following the killing of a Naxalite, Nil Kakote, in an encounter at Khursud in Baihar sector of Balaghat district the other Naxaties had fled from the Paraswadaforest and had gone towards Devari in Rajanandgaon district.

In the encounter, two other Naxalites were injured, but died later, he said. About 16 more SAF companies were shortly arriving here to keep a vigil on the Naxalite activities.

About 4,000 home guards were also being deployed on the day of polling.

Balaghat Collector and district returning officer Rajeev said close co-ordination would be maintained with the administrative and police officials of the adjoining Rajanandgaon district and Bhandara district in Maharashtra to check Naxalite movements.

UNI in Jabalpur

Elections '98

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