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MP seeks help to counter Naxal threat

In a bid to prevent any poll-related violence, the Madhya Pradesh police has sought help from the neighbouring states to ensure smooth conduct of elections in Naxalite and dacoit-infested areas of the state.

According to police headquarters, a total of 799 incidents pertaining to poll violence had occurred during the past ten years in the state, leaving 64 people dead and 544 others wounded. As many as 231 incidents of booth-capturing were brought to light during this period.

The state government has made extensive arrangements to curb any recurrence of poll violence this time. The sensitive areas of the state have been identified and special security underlined for them.

Besides sealing the border districts, contact is being maintained with the concerned officials from neighbouring states. Security has been beefed up in the Naxalite-dominated regions where police have been equipped with satellite phones and two helicopters are being pressed into service for an aerial surveillance.

Panchayat elections held in the state in 1994 had witnessed the maximum violence, when 186 criminal cases were registered. The violence claimed 31 lives and left 239 injured. About 100 polling booths were captured. In the assembly elections earlier, Bhind district had witnessed 53 poll-related incidents which left three persons, including a woman, dead and 87 people injured. Re-poll was held in as many as 69 centres.

The Vidhan Sabha elections in 1993 had left twelve people dead and 117 injured. Complaints of booth capturing were received from ten centres. In the Lok Sabha elections held so far, 1991 witnessed the most incidents of poll violence in which eleven people died and 74 were injured. In the last Lok Sabha elections, 92 criminal cases were registered which included these relating booth capturing at 36 polling centres.

UNI

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