Sringeri: Naxals may have an impact on voting

CHIKKAMAGALURU: Though, no Naxal activities have been witnessed in the district in recent months which could dissuade voters from exercising their exercise on Saturday, the police is not taking any chances on polling day and have classified 33 polling booths in Sringeri Assembly constituency as Naxal affected followed by six in Mudigere, taking the tally to 39 polling booths in the district. 

Again, Sringeri constituency has the highest number of vulnerable polling stations- 81- and 16 critical booths with the district having a total 1,210 polling booths . Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Chikkamagaluru Superintendent of Police K. Annamalai said the classification of Naxal affected polling booths has been done taking into consideration the Naxal movements visible in the past decade. Though there has been no Naxal activity in recent months, the police are on a vigil to thwart the putting up of posters, banners and pamphlets asking voters to boycott voting on Saturday. 

The identified Naxal affected polling stations will be provided with paramilitary personnel besides local policemen to ensure free and fair elections in the district. Sources in Sringeri said there were no incidents of voters boycotting elections fearing Naxals except for distribution of pamphlets and banners. 

In addition to Naxal affected polling stations, 115 polling stations have been identified as critical and another 261 as vulnerable polling stations. The remaining 834 booths are classified as normal booths.