DANTEWADA: Although the first phase of voting in Chhattisgarh was conducted smoothly and saw a significant voter turnout, voters in a village in Dantewada district were seen removing the electoral ink mark from their fingers, fearing their lives.
Naxals in the region near the Indrawati River of Dantewada had threatened to chop off the fingers of villagers if they cast their votes. But despite the threat, a large number of people visited polling booths to exercise their franchise.
Addressing the issue, Dantewada SP Abhishek Pallav said that following the threats of the Naxals, they had to relocate seven booths located near the Indrawati River. However, voters, he said, travelled the extra mile to cast their votes.
"Seven booths near Indrawati River were shifted after the threats of the Naxals. We are planning to set up a camp before the Lok Sabha polls so that the people can take shelter there and cast their votes without the threats from the Naxals," he told ANI.
The first phase of Assembly elections was held in Chhattisgarh on November 12, where 18 seats went to polls, out of which 12 are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes, while one is a Scheduled Caste-reserved seat.
The remaining 72 constituencies in the state will go to polls on November 20.
The result of the assembly polls will be announced on December 11.