“EVMs from 12 constituencies of Naxalite-hit Bastar region and other Maoist-prone Assembly segments have been kept under a tight security cover at different places as counting of votes are scheduled for December 8. A close vigil is being maintained at these places as Maoist rebels are observing the PLGA’s foundation week from December 2 to 8,” police sources said.

Security forces are not ready to take any chance till the completion of counting as it is being felt that the Maoist rebels could resort to any aggressive step during this week as they had failed to create any significant trouble during the polling because of heavy presence of security personnel, including paramilitary forces.

Meanwhile, Maoist posters and banners have surfaced at many places in South Bastar, levelling allegations of atrocities on the poor in the guise of anti-Naxalite campaign and exhorting the people to join the efforts to make the foundation week a success. Daily bus service from Jagdalpur to Hyderabad has been affected while passenger train service from Jagdalpur-Kirandul-Vishakhapattanam has been cancelled as precautionary measures.

Road traffic in the remote areas of Dantewada, Bijapur and Narayanpur districts were affected as the Naxalites felled trees to disrupt traffic at many places since Sunday last. Power supply to more than 250 villages of Bhairamgarh, Bhopalpattanam and Usur blocks in Bijapur district was affected as electric poles were uprooted due to the felling of trees.

Electric supply to these villages were, however, restored on Monday evening as Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board staff, accompanied by a team of security personnel, swung into action to repair the transmission lines.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) A N Upadhyaya said patrolling had been intensified on the main roads of South Bastar after the rebels set ablaze a few vehicles during the past few days. Besides, security personnel from Chhattisgarh and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh are jointly carrying out patrolling on the inter-state border.