At Lalgarh,Maoists win the day

The administration had to make special provisions because of the Maoists threat in the area and a poll boycott called by them.

The EC has,however,did not rule out the possibility of a re-poll in the areas. “We have noticed that no vote has been cast at same booths. We have prepared our report considering these issues and we will send it to the EC. It is the prerogative of the EC whether there will be a re-poll in these areas,” said Rajiva Swarupa,central observer for Binpur Assembly constituency.

Voters from Ramgarh and Sijua did not use the buses arranged by the commission for ferrying voters from the villages to the booths — the commission had shifted booths taking in account the sensitive security situation in the area.

The empty buses returned to the booths as the Maoists had threatened villagers from taking part in the polls.

“We face constant threats of Maoists. There are many Maoist posters asking the villagers to boycott polls. After the polls,they will come to the villages and check out who has cast his vote. If they find anybody who has cast his vote,they will not spare him. So,we cannot risk our lives for exercising our democratic rights,” said Sushil Murmu,a shop owner in Ramgarh.

Chhatradhar Mahato of the People’s Committee against Police’s Atrocity (PCPA),however,cast his vote at Saradamani Vidyapith in Lalgarh.

When asked why the villagers boycotted the polls,Mahato said,“The villagers wanted to cast their votes,but the administration did not make proper arrangements. The villagers had to walk for 5-7 kms from their villages to catch the buses. Moreover,the villagers do not know in which centre they should cast their votes.”

At Lalgarh block,however,around 50 per cent of votes were cast in the seven booths. At a time when villagers did not turn up to the polling booths to exercise their rights,100-year-old Indubala Mondal,a resident of Netai in Lalgarh,did not waste the opportunity of exercising her franchise. “It’s my right. And I will not waste my right being scared of the Maoists,” she said.

Congress candidate of Jhargram Amrit Hansda said that they have requested the EC to conduct a re-poll in 165 booths in Garbeta where voters could not cast their votes as the booths have been allegedly captured by the CPM cadres.

“We have sent a letter to the EC requesting a re-poll in Garbeta. We believe that the vote-boycott in Ramgarh and Lalgarh is also a conspiracy of the CPM,as these areas have anti-CPM voters. It can affect the results,” said Hansda. But his rival CPM candidate Pulin Behari Baske said that other than Ramgrah and Lalgarh he is satisfied with the polling process.

“We are satisfied with the polling process. We believe that we will come to power again. After we come to power,the PCPA will not exist anymore,” said Baske.

For the entire day,Indian Air Force helicopters carried out air surveillance in Maoist-hit areas of Lalgrah,Ramgarh,Salboni and Belpahari.