Forces, IAF choppers ensured violence free poll in Gadchiroli

Heavy deployment of para military forces assisted by four Indian Air Force helicopters helped the administration and police to conduct violence free polling in Naxal infested Gadchiroli district, official sources said.

As many as 27 companies of Border Security Force (BSF), 26 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), two
companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and three companies of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) were deployed in the district, Gadchiroli police said today.

Two MI 17 and two Chetak helicopters assisted the police and polling machinery during the October 13 poll and October 15 repoll in 22 polling stations. Choppers air-lifted a total of 154 EVMs to district headquarters, including 98 on October 14 and 56 EVms yesterday, they said.

Out of the 832 polling stations in the district, 227 were hyper-sensitive, and 191 were sensitive.

Polling was conducted at 810 polling stations on October 13 and remaining 22 yesterday.

Repolling in 22 stations was necessitated as the polling staff could not reach the destinations on time after Naxals dug up roads and placed logs on the road.