LALGARH (WEST MEDINIPUR): There was a good turnout in this forest-rich region with a naxalite presence in the first of the five-phase elections to the West Bengal Assembly on Monday.

The polling was smooth but the Commission's directives ranging from a ban on graffiti to display of flags, party buntings or even party booths robbed the elections of their atmosphere.

Deputy Election Commissioner Anand Kumar made a stop in Lalgarh, 300 km west of Kolkata, during his tour of some of the 45 constituencies that went to the polls in the first phase.

That the directives were strict could be seen on the ground. As one moved across the forest areas, vehicles were stopped for verification by armed para-military personnel in fatigues and black bandanas. Their vehicles had automatic weapons atop them, a reminder of the naxalite threat.

Further from Lalgarh lies Kantapahari, the hamlet which saw the killing of a Communist Party of India (Marxist) worker allegedly by naxalites last month. Yet, there was good turnout at the polling station there, reflecting the confidence of the people in the face of threats.

The para-military personnel, providing proximate security did not allow crowds to build up outside the polling stations. They let in people who came with their voter identity card and made them leave the premises as soon as they cast their vote. For people without proper authorisation, the area was out of bounds.

Security was not intimidating for the voters, but those in the queues complained that the movement was painfully slow. At the Narcha polling station, Mr. Kumar heard this complaint and explained the need for the strict security. Elsewhere too, people said they were held up for over two hours or more. A poll official had the order to let in people in batches of four after cross-checking the ID with the voter list.

In village after village one saw people, clutching ID cards, and moving in groups towards the booth.

Cloudy conditions and a gentle breeze made the weather just about perfect.

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