Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2018: Naxals trigger IED blast in Dantewada, target security forces on polling day

Maoists triggered an IED blast in the Dantewada area of Chhattisgarh on Monday. The first phase of Assembly polls is underway in eight Naxal-affected districts spread across 18 constituencies amid massive security. The IED triggered by Naxals on the Tumakpal-Nayanar road at around 5:30 am was to target security forces. No harm to security forces and the polling party has been done and party safely reached to the Nayanar polling booth No. 183 under PS Katekalyan, Devnath, AIG (Anti-Naxal Ops), according to news agency ANI.

IED was triggered by Naxals on Tumakpal-Nayanar road at around 5:30 am to target security forces. No harm to security forces & polling party. Party safely reached to Nayanar polling booth No. 183 under PS Katekalyan: Devnath, AIG (Anti-Naxal Ops). #Chhattisgarh https://t.co/mYZVvdTPee

— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018

As many as 190 candidates, including state Chief Minister Raman Singh, are in the fray for 18 of the 90 Assembly seats. Off the total 31,80,014 people eligible for voting, 16,22,492 are women, while 15,57,435 are men.

Massive security arrangements have been made for the elections in Chhattisgarh's red belt in wake of Naxal threat to disrupt polling. Around one lakh security personnel, including central paramilitary force, to ensure peaceful elections across the eight districts, which are prone to Naxal attacks. 

At least 201 polling centres - 40 in Sukma, 76 in Bijapur, 18 in Narayanpur, 21 in Dantewada, 28 in Kanker, 12 in Rajnandgaon, two in Jagadalpur and four in Kondagaon - have been shifted from highly sensitive area fearing Maoist attacks, Chief Electoral Officer Subrato Sahu said.

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The 18 Assembly seats where voting is being held today are - Dantewada, Bijapur, Konta, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Jagdalpur, Keshkal and Chitrakoot.

On Sunday, A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed in an IED blast in Kanker's Koyali beda area. A set of six IEDs were planted in a series and were set off in one go between village Gome and Gattakal in the area.

Another fierce encounter broke out between the security forces and Maoists in Bijapur on Sunday morning. One Maoist was killed and another one apprehended, according to news agency ANI. Arms and ammunition were recovered. 

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Raman Singh faces a strong anti-incumbency after a 15-year rule and the Congress has left no stone unturned to grab the state from the BJP’s hands this time.