Polling Parties Return From Booths On Foot In Kandhamal

Phulbani: Three polling parties in Kandhamal district returned from their respective booths to the district headquarters covering a distance of 15km on foot through the forest on Friday morning.

Reports said one polling party having 11 members had their duty at a booth in Barala village under Phiringia police limits in the second phase of polls on Thursday. After polling was over at 4pm, the party left for the district headquarters. But they could not proceed further as the road was blocked by trees felled by the Maoists.

Finding no other way, the party had an overnight stay at Barala. Early next morning, the team began its journey on foot through the dense forest. Accompanied by 23 CRPF personnel, the party reached Balandapada police outpost after covering a distance of about 15km. From there they later left for the district headquarters.

In another incident, two polling parties from Baliguda having 14 members had their duty in two booths in Sirla village under Tumudibandha block on Thursday.

After polling, CRPF personnel advised them not to travel by road because of the Maoist threat. Accompanied by central forces, the two polling parties began their journey on foot through dense forests at 9.30pm and reached Tumudibandh block around 2.30am. After taking rest for an hour, the polling parties left for Baliguda with their kits amid tight security. The team reached the district headquarters later in the day.

It is worth mentioning here that a day before the second phase of polls, Maoists had gunned down a lady polling supervisor, Sanjukta Diggal, near Barala village under Gochhapada police limits on April 17. The same day, the left-wing extremists had also torched a polling party vehicle near Mungunipadar under Phiringia police limits after asking polling officials to alight from the vehicle.