Police assure people of peaceful polling in Naxal-affected booths in Karnataka's Chikkamagaluru

CHIKKAMGALURU: The Chikkamagaluru district has 26 Naxal-affected polling stations and the police are leaving no stone unturned to ensure peaceful assembly elections.
A total of 22 Naxal-affected stations are in Koppa and Sringeri taluks coming under Sringeri assembly constituency and remaining four are located in Kalasa taluk coming under Mudigere assembly constituency.
While police said there is no Naxal movement in the region, they are apprehensive about the presence of Naxal sympathisers in the region.
The police officers along with the staff and election officials visited all the booths and took stock of the security situation, said assistant superintendent of police Gunjan Arya, who is also a nodal officer for Sringeri assembly constituency.
The police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel will take out a route march next week in interior areas of Naxal-affected areas to instil confidence among the people to exercise their franchise without any fear. A vigil is being maintained at the checkposts, including forest areas, he stated.
Apart from the Naxal threat, the booths have other problems like wild animal menace, terrain, network and connectivity issues. In addition, a thin population with individual houses located in distant places also poses a problem.
Additional security forces of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) battalions will be deputed at vantage areas and at polling centres. A few booths are located in interior places and one jeep will be stationed at one booth for security purposes and a temporary repeater station would be established at vantage places for communication purposes, the officer said.
The police will deploy more personeel to ensure peaceful conduct of polls.
"We do not want any untoward incidents to be reported, and we will take all necessary measures," Gunjan Arya said.
Men with weapons will be deputed at vulnerable police stations," the ASP said and urged the people to approach the police if they come across any untoward incidents.