Andhra Pradesh   

Where men and machine have to be airlifted

BHADRACHALAM: A dozen polling stations in the inaccessible tribal pockets of Khammam, particularly those bordering Bastar of Chhattisgarh, will require airlifting of election personnel and electronic voting machines (EVMs). They are all highly unapproachable and the forest routes leading to these pockets, where the Maoists’ writ runs large, are mined heavily.

Besides taking up a vigorous de-mining exercise by clearing the roads connecting all remote habitations and villages, the police have asked for two helicopters for poll-time emergencies. They wanted the choppers to be made available at short notice. The helicopters would be used to pick up polling material and get them back.

They will also be used for evacuating the personnel in case of any eventuality. They will also be kept stand-by for major operations in case of any threat to the Agency poll process in the remote pockets. The Khammam police have sought permission for using the choppers of the Chhattisgarh police stationed at Dantewada in case of similar emergency.

Over 260 polling stations in forest pockets of the district have been identified for an intense police watch. In all, 150 of them are severely affected by the Maoist activity. Some of the forest villages have the Maoist-sponsored sanghams, and habitation-level panels working quite actively.

Nine companies of paramilitary forces have been sought for deployment in the affected pockets. Two Border Security Force (BSF) companies are expected to arrive in a day or two for basic exercise as part of the pre-poll operations.

Besides this, some 850 police personnel from the civil force will come to Khammam from Nellore for the election bandobust.

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