LUCKNOW: Crack Army commandos and an Army helicopter will be kept in reserve for rescue measures, if needed, in the three naxalite-affected districts of Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonebhadra in Uttar Pradesh where elections will be held in the sixth phase of the State Assembly elections on Thursday. They will be stationed in Varanasi.

Campaigning for the sixth round ended on Tuesday. Elections will be held in 52 Assembly constituencies in nine districts of Allahabad, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Sonebhadra, Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi) and Kaushambi.

Threat perception

According to the Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, Mrityunjay Kumar Narain, the helicopter and the commandos will be kept at the disposal of the Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi. Mr. Narain said polling in the sixth phase, particularly in Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonebhadra, had assumed significance in view of the threat perception of the naxalites.

Around 500 polling stations in the three districts, which border Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, have been declared as sensitive from the point of view of naxalite activities.

Some naxalite groups have reportedly issued "firmans" to the villagers for boycotting the polls.

Mr. Narain said strict vigil was being kept in the sensitive areas with more force being deployed in addition to three companies of Central Para Military Force (CPMF) already stationed in the three districts.

The Additional CEO said under the District Deployment Plan, some polling stations had been identified where CPMF personnel would escort the polling parties. Besides, the CPMF would be deployed in the polling booths, Mr. Narain said, and added that the security forces had been fully sensitised for meeting any eventuality.

Threat perception in the region gained credence following the arrest of some suspected naxalites in Barhgarh area of Chandauli district on April 26.

They were arrested while trying to lay a mine in a bid to loot a nationalised bank branch.

Among the weapons seized by the police was a .303 rifle belonging to the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).

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