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Killing of MLA dampens campaigning in Jharkhand

RANCHI, JAN. 18. Electioneering in the first-phase of polling for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly on February has been dampened following the killing of CPI(ML) MLA Mahendra Prasad Singh by unidentified gunmen on Sunday at Giridih district.

Though about 379 candidates filed their nomination papers for the first phase of election, the candidates were now more concerned about their own security during the campaigning as the 24 constituencies going to the polls in the first phase were naxal-dominated areas.

There were more queries with the authorities about security arrangements for the candidates and their workers during the campaign.

The government has assured the electorate and the candidates about the foolproof security arrangements informing that a total of 97 para-miliatry forces, apart from the state police, have already been deployed and regular patrolling in the vulnerable areas have already began.

Raids were being conducted regularly to apprehend the naxal extremists from their probable hideouts, including jungles, official sources said.

The government also reviewed the security scenario following the killing of the CPI(ML) MLA.

The ruling BJP, however, formally launched its campaign with the address of party national president L K Advani at Dumka yesterday.

In his address, Mr Advani squarely blamed the UPA government for the ongoing naxal violence in different parts of the country.

He said scrapping of POTA had encouraged the extremist forces.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress sought the Governor's intervention to provide adequate security to the members of the opposition parties during campaigning.

The CPI(ML) MLA was the first casualty of people's representatives after the creation of the state in 2000 from 22 districts of Bihar.

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Killing of MLA dampens campaigning in Jharkhand

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