Chhattisgarh cops help sought for peaceful byelection in Odisha's Padampur

BHUBANESWAR: Ahead of the December 5 Padampur bypoll, the Bargarh district police held a discussion with the officials in Chhattisgarh and sought their help for a smooth conduct of the byelection.
Bargarh shares a long border with Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund and Sarangarh districts. Bargarh collector Monisha Banerjee and SP Smit P Paramar held the inter-state meeting with Mahasamund's collector N M Kshirsagar and SP Bhojram Patel, along with Sarangarh's collector Fariha Alam and SP Rajesh Kukreja.
"We have multiple entry and exit points along the bordering areas. We will set up naka points at those places. We have requested the collectors and SPs of both the district to extend their cooperation for a hassle-free byelection. We have requested them to deploy their manpower to assist us at the nakas," Bargarh SP Paramar said.
He added that coordination between authorities of the two states is necessary to curb interstate transportation of illicit liquor, cash and other objectionable goods during the election.
Sources said the police are also on their toes over paddy procurement in the bordering states. Since the issue of farmers' welfare tops the agenda of all parties in the bypoll, police apprehend that the movement of farmers between Bargarh and Chhattisgarh during the election may trigger law and order problems.
Since parts of Padampur constituency are affected by left-wing extremism, voting will be held from 7 am to 4 pm, unlike during the recently concluded Dhamnagar bypoll where it went on till 6 pm.