Live Reporting: 67 pc polling in first phase of Chhattisgarh polls, 1 CRPF jawan martyred

Raipur: Nearly 48 per cent voters cast their votes in 18 assembly constituencies of Chhattisgarh assembly polls, marred by attacks by Maoists on polling parties and security personnel, in which one CRPF jawan was martyred. The provisional polling percentages are: Bastar 60 pc, Kanker 76, Narayanpur 62, Konta 40, Dantewada 67, Rajnandgaon 79, Khairagarh 67, Dongargarh 72, Jagdalpur 67 and Keshkal 77 pc. In Dantewada, a CRPF jawan B D Joseph was martyred when Maoists fired at a security party. Maoists carried out five to six IED blasts in Katekalyan area of Tanapal Nanaar in Dantewada .Soon after polling ended and with dusk descending, the Maoists came out of forests in large groups and engaged the security personnel and polling parties trying to transfer electronic voting machines. Heavy firing was going on at several place early in the evening. In Kanker, there was firing between BSF jawans and Maoists in Kana Gaon for half an hour. The Maoists had taken the polling party hostage, but after arrival of the force, the Maoists fled. Heavy firing took place between 25-30 Maoists and CRPF jawans near Polling Booth no 177 in Nayanar, Dantewada, soon after polling ended. Lowest polling was recorded in Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur, all affected by Maoists, with percentages ranging from 37 pc to 40 pc. There was zero per cent voting at 17 polling stations of Naxal-hit Sukma area. Not a single voter turned up in view of Maoist threat to cut off fingers of those who vote.Several polling stations wore a deserted look, with security forces standing guard outside polling booths. By 11 am, hardly 28 per cent of the voters had exercised their franchise in 18 constituencies of Bastar and Rajnandgaon districts. Polling booths in Durgapur and Sitaram of Kanker wore a deserted look in view of Maoist threat to cut off the fingers of voters if found voting. No voting could take place in Durgapur as Maoists looted electronic voting machines from polling parties, while in Sitaram polling parties failed to reach the polling station. A policeman was injured in a pressure bomb blast in Kanker district. He was injured when a pressure bomb laid by Naxals exploded in Kanker district of north Bastar.The incident took place when the jawan was removing the bomb, placed beneath the earth, for defusing near Parlakot village, Kanker Additional Superintendent of Police CD Tandon said. Over ten bombs, including a 10 kg pipe bomb, were recovered from Murkinar area of Bijapur district and Mangnar area and Kuwakonda area of Naxal-hit Dantewada district during de-mining operations. Besides, tiffin bombs in Orcha area of Narayanpur district and a bomb in Kanker district were also recovered.Brisk voting was reported from Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Jagdalpur, Chitrakot, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta constituencies.Voters also lined up to exercise their franchise in Rajnandgaon, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Dongargaon, Mohala-Manpur and Khujji. In Mankeli village of Bijapur district, Maoists fired at securitymen, but after security personnel retaliated, the Maoists fled. Maoists also fired at security personnel in Sitaram gaon in Kanker. Chief Minister Raman Singh and his three ministers are among the candidates whose fate were decided today. 143 candidates were in the field from 12 constituencies in Bastar division and six constituencies of Rajnandgaon district with an electorate of 29, 33,200 in the first of the two-phase polls to the 90-member assembly.1:55pm: 22-24% voting recorded in Chattisgarh till 12pm12:00pm: Firing going on for the past 30 minutes between police and Naxalites in Sulengi area of Narayanpur district.11:00am: 14-16% voting recorded till 10am.10:10am: 25% voting has been recorded till 9.30am in Mohla Manpur assembly seat of Rajandgaon. According to the state election officer, 10-12% voting was recorded on all 18 seats till 9.30am.10am: Naxals fire at voting centre in Mankeli village in Bijapur, flee the place after security personnel counter fire.9:30am: 10%voting recorded between 7 and 9 am in Dantewara area. Similarly, 20% voting was recorded in Bhanupratap pur. Ten per cent voting was recorded in Rajandgaon from 8-9 am.9:45am: The presiding official of voting centre in Balinga constituency, Rajendra Mahaparti, dies due to unknown reasons.9 am: Security forces deployed at helipads to bring polling teams back from Maoist-hit Dantewada, Sukhma and Bijapur by 4:30 pm today. Security personnel to prevent any attempt at firing by Maoists on choppers.8:30 am: CRPF jawans find 2 bombs outside Dhani Korsa Gaon in Maoist-affected Dantewada. One bomb weighing 5 kg, the other bomb weighing 10 kg. 7-8 am: 15% voting recorded in Jagdalpur and 17-18% in Punta and Sukma.3 pm: Zero per cent voting at 17 polling stations of Naxal-hit Sukma are of Chattisgarh. Not a single voter turned up.3 pm: Polling ends for 12 assembly seats in Maoist-hit areas. Lowest polling 37-40 pc in Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur, while in Kanker and Dantewada polling percentage is 62-67.3:30 pm: 25-30 Maoists resort to heavy firing on CRPF jawans near Polling Booth -177 in Nayanar, Dantewada soon after polling ended. Firing going on. 3:45 pm: Dantewada: Martyred CRPF jawan's name is B D Joseph. Maoists carry out five to six IED blasts in Katekalyan area of Tanapal Nanaar in Dantewada 4 pm: Kanker: Firing between BSF and Maoists in Kana Gaon for half an hour. Maoists had taken polling party hostage, bur after arrival of force, Maoists fled

Live Reporting: 67 pc polling in first phase of Chhattisgarh polls, 1 CRPF jawan martyred

Raipur: Nearly 48 per cent voters cast their votes in 18 assembly constituencies of Chhattisgarh assembly polls, marred by attacks by Maoists on polling parties and security personnel, in which one CRPF jawan was martyred.

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