Ranchi: Adequate security deployment would
be made during the five-phase assembly elections beginning on
November 25 in Naxal-affected Jharkhand, Chief Election
Commissioner Navin B Chawla said here on Tuesday.
"They (security personnel) are in adequate number,"
Chawla told a press conference when asked about the security
arrangements during elections in the Naxal-affected districts.
On how the EC would instill confidence among rural
voters if they got scared to turn up at the polling booth in
the face of Maoist threat, he cited the example of
Naxal-affected Gadchiroli where 67 per cent voting was
registered during the recently concluded Maharastra assembly
polls.
Days ahead of the polling in Gadchiroli, the Maoist
had attacked a police convoy inflicting heavy casualties.
Chawla, however, parried another question when his
attention was drawn to Naxal-affected Latehar where the Lok
Sabha elections had been marred by Maoist violence, saying the
review meeting was still on and he took a break to address the
press conference.
For voter participation, he added, the EC has plans to
embark on an awareness programme on radio and television
highlighting the importance of voting.
He said candidates with criminal background would be
videographed during voting and local police officials would
assist in identifying them.
Digital/video cameras would be placed in the booths,
he said and added party banners and flags would be
allowed on private properties, provided the owners showed
willingness for such displays.
The CEC said elderly and sick persons could come in
their own transport, but no party should arrange any
conveyance for the voters.
He called on NGOs and the media to immediately report
to the officials concerned if they came across any malpractice
during voting.
Asked why the EC had decided to go for a five-phase
elections in Jharkhand, Chawla said even in UP the polling was
held in seven phases as it depended on climatic and
geographical conditions.
The polling would be held from 7 am to 3 pm.
Once voters got inside the polling booth before 3 pm,
they would be allowed to cast their votes.
The CEC said political parties should inform the EC if
they get any specific information on booth rigging complaints.
There are 1.8 crore eligible voters in the state.
Bureau Report