Despite the Naxal call to boycott the Assembly elections in Thirthahalli constituency, voters from Agumbe and surrounding areas turned up at the polling stations.
It was anticipated that anti-social elements would raise their heads during the elections and thus the district administration had ensured high security in this region. On April 18, some Naxals had distributed pamphlets at Hulase village and put up posters appealing people to boycott the elections.
In 2008, the naxals had set ablaze a KSRTC bus at Gubbiga near Agumbe.
Till 2.30 pm, Naabala, which is known to be a Naxal-sensitive area recorded more than 72 per cent voter turnout and at Kandalubailu it was 75 per cent at 3 pm. Voters also turned up from naxal-hit areas like Hosagadde, Tallur, Hallibidaragodu, Bidaragodu, Handalasu, Agumbe, Honnetalu, Nabala, Chengaru, Guddekeri and other places.
From villages like Ulmadi, Tallurangadi, Makodu, Ulmadi and others people travelled for five to six kilometres to reach the polling stations.
Lack of basic facilities like title deeds, roads, drinking water, transportation and housing schemes were the issues in various villages in Agumbe region.
A resident Sharath of Tallurangadi told Express that though the Agumbe was called as the Chirapunji of the south, the villages in this region are facing drinking water problem and the situation has aggravated.