BHAWANIPATNA: Suspected Maoists late on Tuesday took away polling material and ballot boxes disrupting voting in three booths of Trilochanpur gram panchayat under Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi district.
The polling officers have safely returned to the block headquarters at Biswanathpur, BDO Prabira Nayak said. The third phase polling was scheduled for Wednesday.
Sources said about seven armed Maoists, including two women, barged into the booths and left with the polling materials. The impact could be felt in seven or eight neighbouring booths with people too scared to come out of houses to exercise their franchise.
Meanwhile, SOG Commandos and police have rushed to the spot. More information is awaited.
The previous day, Maoist posters were found in Kolbahali, Trilochanpur, Khemdipadar and Satantara villages under Trilochanpur gram panchayat. The posters called upon people to boycott panchayat polls.